Dog Days

*YAWN* Romney has Illinois. *YAWN* The republican primaries have hit what I am now referring to as the “Dog Days of elections”. Even when Watching the above link, we can tell the anchors are even getting bored. {SIDENOTE: Listen to the anchors when they announce the percentages, the way they set it up it sounded like Gingrich received third; in all reality Paul demolished Gingrich but refer to my last post for info on that.} 

So now that we have entered the wonderful Dog Days, how do we keep from drifting  away? By inventing games, of course. This new game (I just came up with as I am currently typing so feel free to add your own rules),The Primary Punch, is what surely will pull you out of the boredom of these next few months of, well, boredom. Here’s the rules: Every time one of the candidates puts there foot in their mouth (Figuratively or in Actuality) you must punch you roommate in the arm, every time Gingrich makes his baby face you put liquid soap on your roommates door knob, every time the Daily Show or Colbert Report mentions Santorum’s uber-religious stances you must buy all of the Vess Soda at your local gas station. The last rule is if the front runner changes; shave your head. Enjoy!

 

 

Formal good bye, to Ron Paul.

It looks as though we have the definite two man race now; Santorum v. Romney. As the Republican primary hits the lull point that is the stretch of March to July, it seems we now can focus on two men. Gingrich clams that he is in it until the bitter sultry August end, yet I give him until mid-June until he pulls out. My only hatred of this two-man run, is that my favorite is out and has been out (although not officially). Ron Paul, the man who I felt (for the past six years) could pull this country back together. His views on foreign policy, his very conservative fiscal views, and his love of free markets, I thought he was a clear winner, yet I have to look at who exactly makes up the Republican party; and well, they are not willing to accept Mr. Paul. I would say maybe next election, yet Ron is getting up there and I think this is his last election season. What a shame, hopefully, though, his message has resonated with some younger political players, and we will see his views on the scene once again, hopefully sooner than later.

I’ll miss ya Ron.

IRAN

Quick update: Santorum is still in the front. With him being in front, this means he will now be the one who gets nit picked about every little thing he says. Hopefully, he can handle this well. If Santorum can hold his composure he might just have half a chance. Poor,poor Ron Paul. Oh well, old dog, new tricks you know?

Enough with the politics right now. Talking politics, and thinking politics all the time will make a person go to the nearest drugstore and swallow all the bottles of cough syrup. So in the interest of current events, will Iran keep pushing until an eventual war? My answer is no, yet I am not a perfect authority on this matter. The way the news media is spinning this you would think it is going to happen tomorrow. I find it hilarious how CNN the other day was showing Iran’s ninjas. What? We should all take that with a grain of salt. They are probably just showing these “ninjas” as a means to flex muscle. It is the same thing they are doing with these threat about shutting down the strait. It’s just Iran trying to play with the big boys.

2013 budget plan.

Well, well, Santorum is coming up all the way from behind to tie the front runner, Romney. Isn’t this crazy? Even crazier, Gingrich is dead last in at least one poll. What?? Mind you, the above poll is only for Michigan, yet it is just bizarre that Gingrich could fall that far from one state to the next.

Since I have you all caught up on the polls I have another topic that I’d like to switch to: Obama’a speech about the 2013 budget. I loved it. I know there are a whole bunch of people that will hate what he said, but, damn, can that man give a speech. A few highlights of this plan are: more money to certain higher education institutions if they undergo certain reforms, certain amazing budget cuts, and a small bit of a money boost to help get the job market rolling. The conservative in me is screaming at this because the deficit of this plan will be over 1 trillion.(The fourth straight year…yikes!)

Being a student, I love this plan of Obama’s. Lower interest rates, oh man I am so excited. Yet, I am worried that this is just a ploy. It is an election year, and Obama does want to keep his job. I just hope he stays good on his claim.

Image via Wikipedia

Looking for suggestions.

Image via Wikipedia

If you could not tell, it is yet again election season. Well, it has been election season for quite sometime, but we are getting right to the thick of the madness. Seeing as how it is yet again election season, I have a new resolution: read any of Hunter S. Thompson’s political commentary up until the last ballot is cast in November. I am currently reading his book Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 72, and so far it is amazing. I am a little out of touch with the issues at hand, yet the way Thompson tells the tale I feel like I know exactly what is going on. I plan also on re-reading Better than Sex at some point between now and November.

Now as the title suggests, I am looking for suggestions. Can anyone point me in the way of a contemporary raw journalist; that has the gumption the burn down bridges and tell the story of today’s political landscape? I feel there is a void right now in the great story telling medium of creative non-fiction/new journalism when it comes to politics. Sure you can get the politician themselves to write a book, but those are usually so filled with crap it’s not even worth reading. Then you have some people who will write about a certain politician, yet these are so monotone they put me in tears.

So, please, I need some help. As your reward enjoy this:

Hail to the chief.

Romney has Florida. This was bound to happen. I am surprised actually that any of the other hopefuls have stayed in the primary race this long.

So Romney has Florida, does this mean he will take the pie in November? No. Since this has been one of the most heated primaries, all of the candidates have been spending so much money that I feel a lot of it will run out. This is one of the strategies I heard that Obama is going to use to his advantage. This makes sense, attack your opponent when their resources are spread too thin. Another, less “honorable” strategy Obama is using is to attack the GOP. I say less honorable because I feel passing blame happens too often in politics. It may not be Obama’s fault that the economy is getting closer and closer to complete shambles, or that unemployment is above nine percent and projected to stay that way. This type of torch passing only sways undecided voters. Which, sadly, is not a horrible thing for Obama to do.

Romney vs. Obama for all the marbles in November. If it comes down to that I will try to remember these few things.

Romney.

Obama.

Oh wait, I forgot that I can still write in a candidate. (Ignore the booing.)

COMMENTS

Comment 1- jan.24-11:07-http://lostinthe21stcentury.com/2012/01/24/do-people-become-more-conservative-as-they-age/

I have wondered this myself. As the days progress, I feel that I am starting to have a more conservative attitude, yet then again it could just be my up bringing finally coming out.

Austin Sanderson

Comment 2-The Importance of Prewriting-Johnathan Garrett

I really enjoyed this bit of advice. I have always done what you had: do the characters back story, plot out your beginning and end, yet I had never thought to physically have the environment in front of me. That is a great tip. I also think your idea of mind to hand is an excellent technique. Thanks for the tips!

Feb 1. http://jonathanagarrett.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/the-importance-of-pre-writing/#comment-7

Comment 3-Easy Chalkboard DIY-Jennifer Lycke

I love that chalkboard paint! So many fun uses, for example if you have kids(or kids at heart) , like a friend of mine; she painted the top of a table with the chalkboard paint to put in her kids play room. They loved it. Plus she told me she saved a ton on paper. Last time I talked to her she said, she was thinking of doing a section of the wall like that, but I haven’t talked to her since. Thanks for the awesome idea.

Feb-8 http://theartisticlife.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/easy-chalkboard-diy/

Comment 4-Question of the week-Dominique

I rarely go into a bookstore without having some idea of the book I’m going to purchase. Though on the off chance I do go in and just browse, one thing that always makes me turn the book away is this: the first chapter. I will begin to read the book, and if the first chapter is engaging; the book will be mine. If my mind starts to wonder around I’ll put the book down and move on. So if the first chapter is lacking substance I don’t buy. Thanks for the question!

Feb-15 http://thepovlounge.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/question-of-the-week-114/#comment-728

Comment5-DIY Mercury Glass-Kara Hill

That is super awesome! I have a LOT of mason jars and just junk window glass laying around, so I have been looking for some things to do with them. I will definitely be this! Thanks!

Feb-22 http://everydayinstilettos.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/diy-mercury-glass/#comment-632

Comment 6-Chili Corn and Red Capsicum Soup-Maddy Cruise

Oh my goodness that looks amazing. I am definitely going to have to try this. It is just too bad that it seems warm weather is here (just too bad because soup in hot weather isn’t my thing). Oh well I’ll just have to wait until next fall, Thanks for the awesome idea.

Mar-14 http://maddylilcorner.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/chili-corn-and-red-capsicum-soup/

Comment 7-Three of the Most Interesting Film/Television Characters-Mike Reverb

Everyone has awesome character choices and I love the debate this has brought up, but if I was to choose I would agree with Captain Jack and Walter. My third would have to be Sheriff Rick from the comic series (not TV) Walking Dead. Such a great character, but that’s just my two cents.

Mar-21 http://mikereverb.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/three-of-the-most-interesting-film-television-characters/

America: The pot is full.

With the economy at a stand still, people are finding it increasingly difficult to get a job; plants are shutting down and moving over seas. We have seen that a ton of blue-collar jobs are being lost. Now the above video shows that certain groups of people are now in an uproar about legal immigrants coming and taking jobs from “native” Americans. With most legal immigrants being higher educated, it is now white-collar jobs that are being taken.

I was at the gym running on the treadmill, when i saw this commercial and my first thought was absolute disgust. Now I look at it and I can see why certain people would like to stop legal immigration. It is possible that some more well educated members of other countries can come over and compete with workers in a more white collar setting. Then after I weigh these outcomes I am reminded why I actually love our country. America is set up so that competition breeds excellence. If you have somebody competing with you for a job, the end result will be the better worker coming out on top with the job. Why is that a bad thing? If I am running a company I would not discriminate because one worker is from America and another is from elsewhere. NO. I would choose the best worker so that my corporation would run more efficiently.

This commercial is misguided. We need this competition.