I have no intention of turning this into a political blog, but this race has gotten me to the point where I feel like I need to express my opinions on the subject. That said, here are my thoughts on tonight’s proceedings.
I just watched Sarah Palin’s speech and came away from it thinking that McCain may have pulled off a brilliant campaign maneuver. He effectively stole the Hussein mantra of change and turned it toward his advantage. I was stunned when McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate. Mainly because I was hoping that he was going to pick Romney. Romney was the best choice on paper and the most conservative choice he could make that could galvanize the conservative base of the Republican party.
On the surface, the fact that she's a woman is an obvious departure from the norm in Washington, but if you pay attention, I think you'll find that there's much more there than meets the eye. She’s more conservative than McCain and has easily done as much for McCain’s campaign as Romney would have, maybe more. I’m no political analyst, but that’s the impression that I’m getting. She brilliantly highlighted Obama’s shortcomings; all of which I was already well aware. Especially his tax plan. I will never understand how a candidate can pledge to raise taxes and still get people to support that. It blows my mind. (More on that in a future post) I’m looking forward to see if the media tries to suppress those parts of her speech. Regardless of how that plays out in the next few days, I think that the Hussein campaign took a pretty big hit tonight. Thank God.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
We've Come a Long Way Baby
A black man is poised to become the first black president of the united states. An historic accomplishment that on it's face is cause for great joy on the part of black people. No, for the entire nation, regardless of race. So why am I not joyful? I'll tell you why. Because Obama's candidacy is, among other things, the ultimate Affirmative Action ploy, and if he should win, it will be the ultimate Affirmative Action hire. Given his background, the limited amount of time he has spent in elected office, does anyone really believe that if his name was Peter Davidson and was a white man with the exact same pedigree that anyone other than civics geeks would have any idea who he is? I don't think so. Does anyone really think that a white man who is friends with a known former IRA terrorist would get a whiff of a Senate seat, let alone the presidency? I don't think so.
So what are we to make of all this? I'll tell you. Liberals are so afraid of being labeled racist that they are willing to put someone who is woefully unqualified to be president at the top of the ticket. A reporter for Newsweek wrote this week that if Obama doesn't win, it proves that we are a racist country. WHAT? I say that if he does win, it proves that we are still a racist country. See if you can follow me on this. The dictionary defines the word racist as such: A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race - OR - a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. Now, liberals are so intent on getting this guy into office because they don't believe that a qualified black man can win the election on his merits, thereby suggesting that black people are inherently inferior, ergo: racist.
Do I believe that the United States is a racist country? To a certain extent, yes. I believe that if you work hard, develop a skill and produce goods or services that people need or want, you can do quite well in this country, regardless of the color of your skin. Having said that, there are certain sectors of society where race plays a major factor in one's success or at least one's ability to succeed, and being white can actually be a detriment. The pendulum of political correctness has swung to the other extreme. Now qualified white people are getting passed over in favor of less qualified minorities simply because they are white. When will it end you ask? It's not going to end on November 4th if we elect unqualified black man to the most powerful office in the world. It will end when Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is realized; and electing an unqualified black man to the most powerful office in the world is not the realization of that dream.
So what are we to make of all this? I'll tell you. Liberals are so afraid of being labeled racist that they are willing to put someone who is woefully unqualified to be president at the top of the ticket. A reporter for Newsweek wrote this week that if Obama doesn't win, it proves that we are a racist country. WHAT? I say that if he does win, it proves that we are still a racist country. See if you can follow me on this. The dictionary defines the word racist as such: A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race - OR - a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. Now, liberals are so intent on getting this guy into office because they don't believe that a qualified black man can win the election on his merits, thereby suggesting that black people are inherently inferior, ergo: racist.
Do I believe that the United States is a racist country? To a certain extent, yes. I believe that if you work hard, develop a skill and produce goods or services that people need or want, you can do quite well in this country, regardless of the color of your skin. Having said that, there are certain sectors of society where race plays a major factor in one's success or at least one's ability to succeed, and being white can actually be a detriment. The pendulum of political correctness has swung to the other extreme. Now qualified white people are getting passed over in favor of less qualified minorities simply because they are white. When will it end you ask? It's not going to end on November 4th if we elect unqualified black man to the most powerful office in the world. It will end when Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is realized; and electing an unqualified black man to the most powerful office in the world is not the realization of that dream.
Friday, February 03, 2006
I Love Being A Texan
This is one of the funniest things I have ever gotten in my email!!
Debating the War on Terror:
Question: You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner and is running at you while screaming obscenities. In your hand is a Glock .40 and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
Liberal Answer:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor or oppressed? Have I ever done anything to him that is inspiring him to attack? Could we runaway? What does my wife think? What about the kids? Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation? Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me or would he just be content to wound me? If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me? This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for a few days to try to come to a conclusion.
Conservative Answer:
BANG!
Texan's Answer:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click... (sounds of magazine being ejected and fresh one inserted)
Wife: "Sweetheart, he looks like he's still moving, what do you kids think?"
Son: "Mom's right Dad, I saw it too..."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Daughter: "Nice grouping Daddy!
I don't remember ever laughing as hard at an email as I laughed when I opened this gem! Have a great weekend everybody!
Debating the War on Terror:
Question: You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children. Suddenly, a dangerous looking man with a huge knife comes around the corner and is running at you while screaming obscenities. In your hand is a Glock .40 and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
Liberal Answer:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question! Does the man look poor or oppressed? Have I ever done anything to him that is inspiring him to attack? Could we runaway? What does my wife think? What about the kids? Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand? What does the law say about this situation? Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me? Does he definitely want to kill me or would he just be content to wound me? If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me? This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for a few days to try to come to a conclusion.
Conservative Answer:
BANG!
Texan's Answer:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click... (sounds of magazine being ejected and fresh one inserted)
Wife: "Sweetheart, he looks like he's still moving, what do you kids think?"
Son: "Mom's right Dad, I saw it too..."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Daughter: "Nice grouping Daddy!
I don't remember ever laughing as hard at an email as I laughed when I opened this gem! Have a great weekend everybody!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
The Hunt Is On!
I love it here in Texas. I have my balcony door open on January 19. Try doing that in Boston at this time of year! (sorry Trina!) So I’m sitting here online trying to find a job. I’ve been getting a few bites and hopefully it will happen within the next week or so. My wife is not having quite as much success. She’s sent out close to 50 resumes but not even a nibble. Life is going to be interesting if neither one of us gets a job any time soon….
So my Dad called me the other day and left a message that he is going to be in San Antonio in February and wants to get together with me and my wife. I’m not sure if I want to do that. He’s been acting like an ass lately with me and my sister. If he had been anyone else treating my sister that way, he would have caught a serious beat down. Not only is he telling people that I’m a liar, but my sister is mentally unstable and under the influence of some sinister sociopath. There are people that would apply that characterization to him, but that’s a story for another time. My sister is the most normal member of my family – aside from me of course. I’m sure my mother is going to try and get us to get together. Right now I’m leaning towards telling him to save his money and stay in SA.
So my Dad called me the other day and left a message that he is going to be in San Antonio in February and wants to get together with me and my wife. I’m not sure if I want to do that. He’s been acting like an ass lately with me and my sister. If he had been anyone else treating my sister that way, he would have caught a serious beat down. Not only is he telling people that I’m a liar, but my sister is mentally unstable and under the influence of some sinister sociopath. There are people that would apply that characterization to him, but that’s a story for another time. My sister is the most normal member of my family – aside from me of course. I’m sure my mother is going to try and get us to get together. Right now I’m leaning towards telling him to save his money and stay in SA.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Offcially A Texan!
So, here it is another month later and I’m just now getting around to posting. In my defense, I just drove halfway across the country and haven’t had internet access until this past weekend. As some of you may or may not remember, I was planning on moving to Texas at the beginning of this year, so between the Holidays and the move, I’ve been al little occupied and otherwise off the grid. But here I am, connected to the internet and will probably spend many hours online looking for a job. This will afford me lots of time to blog and get reacquainted with some of the people that I was starting to get to know.
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As I mentioned earlier, I just moved to Texas form Boston. My wife and I drove the whole way, stopping in Philadelphia to see friends and my grandmother. I hadn’t seen her in a long time and seeing her again, even though it was a brief visit was great. After leaving Philly, we drove for about 12 hours and stopped in Nashville. We checked out the music scene and the Country Music Hall of Fame and we ate some really good food. (We also spent way too much money!) Those of you that are Country music fans may have heard of a bar there called the Whitehorse Saloon. The night we went, the place was packed because they were holding tryouts for the next season of Nashville Star. I saw some of the contestants there from last season, Erika Jo, Jody Evans and Jason Meadows; but no major country stars.
Then we hit the road again for the last leg of the trip to Texas. Since I drove the whole way to Philly and the second half of the trip to Nashville and the first nine hours of the drive to Texas, I was quite tired. My wife decided she wanted to drive right when we crossed the border into Texas. The next thing I know, we’re pulling over at a rest stop because she was seeing animals - or something - crawling across the hood of the car. AWESOME! We both slept for a couple of hours and she drove a little while longer after we slept but I finally talked her into letting me drive just before we hit Dallas and I drove from there to Austin.
We arrived in Austin January 9th at about 8:00 am and at breakfast and then got lost trying to find our new place and then spent the remainder of the day in the leasing office signing the lease and then unpacking the car and driving around getting lost trying to get necessities for the apartment. Now we’re about halfway setup in terms of furniture and things for the apartment and most importantly, I was finally able to get my wireless router set up. Having said that, I won’t promise to post something everyday but keep checking back and we’ll see.
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As I mentioned earlier, I just moved to Texas form Boston. My wife and I drove the whole way, stopping in Philadelphia to see friends and my grandmother. I hadn’t seen her in a long time and seeing her again, even though it was a brief visit was great. After leaving Philly, we drove for about 12 hours and stopped in Nashville. We checked out the music scene and the Country Music Hall of Fame and we ate some really good food. (We also spent way too much money!) Those of you that are Country music fans may have heard of a bar there called the Whitehorse Saloon. The night we went, the place was packed because they were holding tryouts for the next season of Nashville Star. I saw some of the contestants there from last season, Erika Jo, Jody Evans and Jason Meadows; but no major country stars.
Then we hit the road again for the last leg of the trip to Texas. Since I drove the whole way to Philly and the second half of the trip to Nashville and the first nine hours of the drive to Texas, I was quite tired. My wife decided she wanted to drive right when we crossed the border into Texas. The next thing I know, we’re pulling over at a rest stop because she was seeing animals - or something - crawling across the hood of the car. AWESOME! We both slept for a couple of hours and she drove a little while longer after we slept but I finally talked her into letting me drive just before we hit Dallas and I drove from there to Austin.
We arrived in Austin January 9th at about 8:00 am and at breakfast and then got lost trying to find our new place and then spent the remainder of the day in the leasing office signing the lease and then unpacking the car and driving around getting lost trying to get necessities for the apartment. Now we’re about halfway setup in terms of furniture and things for the apartment and most importantly, I was finally able to get my wireless router set up. Having said that, I won’t promise to post something everyday but keep checking back and we’ll see.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Family Business
So, as you all can see I’ve been slacking in the blog department lately. In my defense, I’ve been busy getting ready to move. My wife doesn’t let me sit around on the computer while she’s packing and cleaning. And if I don’t do anything while she’s at work and I’m at home by myself, all hell breaks loose. (Well, not really, but it just makes life easier when I help out)
Enough excuses, it’s been so long that I have all kinds of things to write about. Let’s start with my family. I think I may have alluded to this in previous posts, but I don’t get along with them very well. The latest episode started with the fact that my parents are telling everyone that I didn’t want them at my wedding. Now, before we decided to go to Las Vegas, I asked my dad to perform the ceremony. I told them that the plans changed, but I never specifically said “but we still want you there”. They expressed some concerns about that at which point I said “I apologize for letting you think that I don’t want you there but I do want you there; we want you there.” After that conversation, he said that he would make the arrangements to get to Las Vegas at the appointed time. I never heard a word about it after that and none of them showed. After talking to my sister (we’ll call her T) a few weeks ago, she said that my dad “got the impression that I didn’t want them there”…… WHAT???? How he got that impression I’ll never know. But wait, there’s more: he and my J maintain that I never said that I wanted any of them there. So now it has deteriorated into a he said/she said situation. Good times.
I have another sister (We’ll call her N) that is on the outs with my dad as well. I found out from talking to her that conversations that she has had with our father also get twisted around, so that by the time they get to my mother and T, N’s made out to be the one twisting the conversation and generally just out and out lying - just like I apparently am. Oh well.
Then there’s my mother, who I have generally had a pretty good relationship with all along. The other day, she asked me where we were registered, which led to this exchange:
Me: Why?
Mom: Why do you think?
Me: I don’t know, that’s why I asked
Mom: To by you a wedding gift
Me to myself: That was two months ago!
Me: For what? That was…..(cut off by mom)
Mom: Where are you registered?
Me: I don’t remember
Mom: Are you trying to be mean? Why are you being so mean and nasty? I’ve had a bad day and I’m not dealing with this tonight. Goodbye. ~Click~
Good times!
Now I know that the only reason that she brought it up was because I mentioned it to my sister in a conversation, which pisses me off even more. (telephone, telegraph, tell-a-sister). She knows that I hate being hung up on. I have broken up with girlfriends over that. I have no intention of calling any my father or my mother. If they call me I’ll answer the phone or call them back if they leave a message, but I refuse to call him because he’s is telling everyone that I’m a liar, and I refuse to call her because I think that hanging up on someone is the ultimate in disrespect and I will not beg someone – my mother or anyone else – to talk to me after they show me that little respect. I’m sure some of you out there probably think that my refusal to tell my mother where we were registered was wrong, but if she hadn’t hung up on me, I would have explained to her that after two months with no acknowledgement that I got married, to all of a sudden ask where we were registered – because of my sister no less – is a ridiculous gesture and I would rather she save her money. Is that mean? Nasty? Belligerent? I don’t think that it is, but I welcome your input.
Enough excuses, it’s been so long that I have all kinds of things to write about. Let’s start with my family. I think I may have alluded to this in previous posts, but I don’t get along with them very well. The latest episode started with the fact that my parents are telling everyone that I didn’t want them at my wedding. Now, before we decided to go to Las Vegas, I asked my dad to perform the ceremony. I told them that the plans changed, but I never specifically said “but we still want you there”. They expressed some concerns about that at which point I said “I apologize for letting you think that I don’t want you there but I do want you there; we want you there.” After that conversation, he said that he would make the arrangements to get to Las Vegas at the appointed time. I never heard a word about it after that and none of them showed. After talking to my sister (we’ll call her T) a few weeks ago, she said that my dad “got the impression that I didn’t want them there”…… WHAT???? How he got that impression I’ll never know. But wait, there’s more: he and my J maintain that I never said that I wanted any of them there. So now it has deteriorated into a he said/she said situation. Good times.
I have another sister (We’ll call her N) that is on the outs with my dad as well. I found out from talking to her that conversations that she has had with our father also get twisted around, so that by the time they get to my mother and T, N’s made out to be the one twisting the conversation and generally just out and out lying - just like I apparently am. Oh well.
Then there’s my mother, who I have generally had a pretty good relationship with all along. The other day, she asked me where we were registered, which led to this exchange:
Me: Why?
Mom: Why do you think?
Me: I don’t know, that’s why I asked
Mom: To by you a wedding gift
Me to myself: That was two months ago!
Me: For what? That was…..(cut off by mom)
Mom: Where are you registered?
Me: I don’t remember
Mom: Are you trying to be mean? Why are you being so mean and nasty? I’ve had a bad day and I’m not dealing with this tonight. Goodbye. ~Click~
Good times!
Now I know that the only reason that she brought it up was because I mentioned it to my sister in a conversation, which pisses me off even more. (telephone, telegraph, tell-a-sister). She knows that I hate being hung up on. I have broken up with girlfriends over that. I have no intention of calling any my father or my mother. If they call me I’ll answer the phone or call them back if they leave a message, but I refuse to call him because he’s is telling everyone that I’m a liar, and I refuse to call her because I think that hanging up on someone is the ultimate in disrespect and I will not beg someone – my mother or anyone else – to talk to me after they show me that little respect. I’m sure some of you out there probably think that my refusal to tell my mother where we were registered was wrong, but if she hadn’t hung up on me, I would have explained to her that after two months with no acknowledgement that I got married, to all of a sudden ask where we were registered – because of my sister no less – is a ridiculous gesture and I would rather she save her money. Is that mean? Nasty? Belligerent? I don’t think that it is, but I welcome your input.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
It Was a Great Day!
So I did it. I’m a married man….again. This is my second marriage. My first one ended officially 10 years ago and I haven’t spoken to her in almost 13 years. Moving on….My beautiful bride and I got married at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas at the Chapel in the Clouds.
It was a gorgeous day and our friends and family were there. Bethany was as beautiful as I had ever seen her, even though she was nervous as all hell! If the hands shivering weren’t evidence enough, when it was her turn to say I do, she paused for a three count. There is video evidence of this! She will never live it down.
After the ceremony we took some pictures some of which are in this post, others will be on Snapfish in the very near future. (I’ve been so busy since we got back that I haven’t had much time for blogging or much else for that matter) After the pictures we had some time to kill before we went to dinner so my boys and I
got on some of the rides that are on top of the Stratosphere. I got permission from the wife because she got to chill with her girls while we defied death.
Then we went to the Top of the World lounge and had some drinks before we went to dinner.
(Isn't she gorgeous?)I met her friend’s parents who actually helped raise my wife for a time and they were really nice. Much nicer than her mother (who wasn’t there…’nuff said). After we got a little tipsy on the 10 dollar drinks, we headed downstairs 108 floors to the restaurant where her father set up a reception type dinner for us. The food was phenomenal and we couldn’t have asked for a better time. As I said in my toast,
the people who mattered most to us were there. (That’s not entirely true, some couldn’t make it for legit reasons and we understood those, others…..not so much) Nevertheless, everyone had a great time and that’s all we cared about.
After dinner, we changed (wink) and met up with some friends and went to a club inside the Bellagio. My buddy Craig picked up the tab for that little excursion which he did not have to do, but I can not thank him enough. Bethany and I bid them farewell and went back to our hotel and went to bed. We had every intention of getting up early and meeting my friend Jay and his wife for breakfast, but that didn’t happen. We didn’t get back from the Bellagio until about 3:30 in the AM. 
When we finally did get up, we explored the strip a little and then got new tattoos. This was the most painful thing I have ever put myself through and I had three others prior to this one. I’m guessing it’s because it’s right in the middle of my back, but I digress. We hung out in Vegas that night and went to Freemont street, the Old Strip if you will, where Binion’s and the Golden Nugget are. If you go to Vegas, Freemont Street is definitely a place you need to visit. Part of it is covered and at night, they have great light shows and you can walk around with drinks and the hotels have bars on the street so you 
can just walk up and buy a drink and keep walking. Awesome time, I can’t wait to go back. We left on Saturday afternoon and came back to Mass only to turn around and get on a boat to Bermuda! I’ll be back with pictures and details of that little adventure!
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