Have we learned from the sins of the past? Are we capable of dealing with the millions of displaced people better than we did three years ago? Can we sustain the blow to our economy?
I suspect we will all be emotionally and financially impacted come Tuesday if this storm continues on its current path. But this time, the problems will not be caused by us being unprepared. Katrina was a tragic disaster from start to finish. Our government failed us at all levels. (Can someone explain to me how Ray Nagin still has a job?) Have we learned? I certainly hope so. It looks like the people of the Gulf Coast have.
Three years ago, the governor of Louisiana declared a state of emergency on Friday, the Mayor of New Orleans issued a mandatory evacuation on Sunday morning and the storm hit on Monday morning. Three years ago, hundreds of thousands of people refused to leave or waited until the last minute. That was their choice at the time and it came with tragic consequences. This time, millions have made the choice to leave.
We will find out later this week if leaving was necessary, I hope and pray it was not. But at the same time, I hope we don't look look back, if this is a false alarm, and next time ignore the warning.
God Bless the Gulf Coast,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Historic Friday...
Sarah Palin? Who? What? Why?
I try to keep myself up to speed with the who's who of politics, and until a couple weeks ago, I had never heard this woman's name. In fairness, I will reserve judgement until I can learn more about her. However, these are my initial thoughts...
I believe people vote for the top of the ticket and pay very little attention to the VP choice. However, make no mistake about it, this is bold move by McCain. He seems to be playing offense and defense with this choice.
Offensively, the choice of a woman as a running mate is going to swing some of the Hillary voters over to the McCain side. How many votes it will convert is unknown, but it will bring over some.
Defensively, choosing Palin keeps Obama's dogs at bay. Can they bring up her youth? Not without bringing Obama's youth into discussion. Can they bring up her inexperience? Not without putting a glaring spotlight on his own record. Can they bring up her gender? Not without alienating his base and bringing his race into the discussion.
Above those facts, she is a wife and working mother of five. Her husband is an Native American union worker and they have a disabled child. She seems to be the All-American girl. How do you attack that? I'm not sure it is possible without offending voters.
I will be interested to learn more about this ethics investigation though. I suspect there is not much there since McCain knew about this and still choose her, but I'm sure the media will latch onto this and try to make an issue of this drama.
We certainly do live in interesting times.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
I try to keep myself up to speed with the who's who of politics, and until a couple weeks ago, I had never heard this woman's name. In fairness, I will reserve judgement until I can learn more about her. However, these are my initial thoughts...
I believe people vote for the top of the ticket and pay very little attention to the VP choice. However, make no mistake about it, this is bold move by McCain. He seems to be playing offense and defense with this choice.
Offensively, the choice of a woman as a running mate is going to swing some of the Hillary voters over to the McCain side. How many votes it will convert is unknown, but it will bring over some.
Defensively, choosing Palin keeps Obama's dogs at bay. Can they bring up her youth? Not without bringing Obama's youth into discussion. Can they bring up her inexperience? Not without putting a glaring spotlight on his own record. Can they bring up her gender? Not without alienating his base and bringing his race into the discussion.
Above those facts, she is a wife and working mother of five. Her husband is an Native American union worker and they have a disabled child. She seems to be the All-American girl. How do you attack that? I'm not sure it is possible without offending voters.
I will be interested to learn more about this ethics investigation though. I suspect there is not much there since McCain knew about this and still choose her, but I'm sure the media will latch onto this and try to make an issue of this drama.
We certainly do live in interesting times.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Friday, August 29, 2008
What a speech...
The man is a tremendous orator. You would have to be completely against Obama to not be at least a little inspired by his delivery. His speech writers, on the other hand, either need some help or are deliberately giving him repackaged Democrat talking points from the past several decades.
I wish I could believe some of the things he discussed last night. The problem for me is he has refused to get specific enough. For example, I loved the following segment...
"Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime — by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less — because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy."
I agree with him, we need to close loopholes in our tax code which do not promote growth. However, can you give me just ONE specific loophole that needs to be closed? If there are so many, this must be an easy task.
I think we all agree, there is too much government and there is need for elimination of a number of broken or redundant departments. Can you give me just FIVE programs you have identified already which you will eliminate or improve in the first 100 days in office? With the amount of waste we all know is there, this should be easy too.
If he had answered either of those questions in his speech, I would have been giving Obama a second look today. Because specifics are what I am looking for from a man who is still largely unknown. He is overexposed and celebrated by the mainstream media, but he has submitted himself to very few interviews where he has been challenged about his policies or beliefs. You learn about people by seeing how they react in the face of adversity. Because he only does fluff interviews, we still do not know who he is.
What do I know?
I know he is an American success story. I know he has come from nowhere, against astronomical odds, to national prominence. I know he is a great family man. I know he inspires people. I know he is a tremendous orator. These are all good things.
However, I also know he was a political nobody four years ago. I know he spent 20 years listening to Rev. Wright. I know he calls himself a Christian, yet is and advocate for late term abortions of viable fetus'. I know he was, at a minimum, friendly with, and had fundraisers thrown by, Bill Ayers, an admitted domestic terrorist. I know he has used cocaine. I know by Jeri Ryan airing her husband's dirty laundry during his Senate run, he was given a free pass into the Senate. I know he has been running for President for HALF of his Senate career. I know he has voted the party line almost 100% of the time and has never taken opposition against his party on any major issue. These are all bad things.
I hope Obama gives me, and the American people a chance to get to know him. I am not fan of John McCain, but right now I have to give him my vote. I know who he is. I don't 100% like what I know, but none the less I know what makes him tick, what his track record is and what his motivation is. I know none of these things about Barak.
Will he eventually come around? I suspect if he does not, it will be because he knows his values and motivations are incongruent with most of America. If he does, I'll be interested to learn.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
I wish I could believe some of the things he discussed last night. The problem for me is he has refused to get specific enough. For example, I loved the following segment...
"Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime — by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less — because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy."
I agree with him, we need to close loopholes in our tax code which do not promote growth. However, can you give me just ONE specific loophole that needs to be closed? If there are so many, this must be an easy task.
I think we all agree, there is too much government and there is need for elimination of a number of broken or redundant departments. Can you give me just FIVE programs you have identified already which you will eliminate or improve in the first 100 days in office? With the amount of waste we all know is there, this should be easy too.
If he had answered either of those questions in his speech, I would have been giving Obama a second look today. Because specifics are what I am looking for from a man who is still largely unknown. He is overexposed and celebrated by the mainstream media, but he has submitted himself to very few interviews where he has been challenged about his policies or beliefs. You learn about people by seeing how they react in the face of adversity. Because he only does fluff interviews, we still do not know who he is.
What do I know?
I know he is an American success story. I know he has come from nowhere, against astronomical odds, to national prominence. I know he is a great family man. I know he inspires people. I know he is a tremendous orator. These are all good things.
However, I also know he was a political nobody four years ago. I know he spent 20 years listening to Rev. Wright. I know he calls himself a Christian, yet is and advocate for late term abortions of viable fetus'. I know he was, at a minimum, friendly with, and had fundraisers thrown by, Bill Ayers, an admitted domestic terrorist. I know he has used cocaine. I know by Jeri Ryan airing her husband's dirty laundry during his Senate run, he was given a free pass into the Senate. I know he has been running for President for HALF of his Senate career. I know he has voted the party line almost 100% of the time and has never taken opposition against his party on any major issue. These are all bad things.
I hope Obama gives me, and the American people a chance to get to know him. I am not fan of John McCain, but right now I have to give him my vote. I know who he is. I don't 100% like what I know, but none the less I know what makes him tick, what his track record is and what his motivation is. I know none of these things about Barak.
Will he eventually come around? I suspect if he does not, it will be because he knows his values and motivations are incongruent with most of America. If he does, I'll be interested to learn.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The same ol' Bubba...
I am the last guy to compliment Bill Clinton. He takes, and is given, more credit than he deserves for the peace and prosperity of the 90's. The man should have "Bill Gates Rocks" tattooed on his body somewhere. Without the computer/internet boom and the economic growth it spurred, there are no budget surpluses for Bubba to hang his hat on. Thank you Bill, Gates that is.
As for the peace portion, the Bush 41 presidency had just squelched the Iraq problem, Lybia and Russia were still licking the wounds Reagan inflicted on them in the 80's. Who else would cause us any problems?
There was something about Bubba though. I loved to hear the man speak. I hated his politics, but he was so charismatic and engaging I just had to listen. Last night was much of the same. That man knows how to work a room. He knows how to connect with a crowd. He knows how to pull the wool over a nations eyes.
That is the legacy of the Clinton presidency in my eyes, it was one big charade. He took credit for others work then, and he continues to do the same today. But boy, could that man give a speech.
So, as I sit hear awaiting the Messiah's acceptance speech, I remind myself that words are only words, you are defined by you actions. What had Obama done? Other than giving a bunch of speeches, I'm not sure anything.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
As for the peace portion, the Bush 41 presidency had just squelched the Iraq problem, Lybia and Russia were still licking the wounds Reagan inflicted on them in the 80's. Who else would cause us any problems?
There was something about Bubba though. I loved to hear the man speak. I hated his politics, but he was so charismatic and engaging I just had to listen. Last night was much of the same. That man knows how to work a room. He knows how to connect with a crowd. He knows how to pull the wool over a nations eyes.
That is the legacy of the Clinton presidency in my eyes, it was one big charade. He took credit for others work then, and he continues to do the same today. But boy, could that man give a speech.
So, as I sit hear awaiting the Messiah's acceptance speech, I remind myself that words are only words, you are defined by you actions. What had Obama done? Other than giving a bunch of speeches, I'm not sure anything.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Putting politics aside for a moment...
The historical significance and symmetry of this week is important to note.
Yesterday, while delivering the best and most important speech of her political career, Hillary noted it was the 88th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment's ratification. Today, Barak Obama became the first African American to be nominated the presidential candidate for a major political party. Tomorrow, Obama will give his acceptance speech on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech.
All are important milestones on their own merits. But collectively, they show the ability of America to evolve. You see, we do not need to change America. America, is off course. We need a shift in many policies. But the fundamentals of America do not need change. Americans are strong. Americans are resourceful. Americans are capable of heroic acts of kindness and have the ability to do great things. These three events prove this point.
Can McCain or Obama offer us the leadership it will require to alter our course and steer us back onto the road? Do they have the intestinal fortitude to make the tough decisions and work with all Americans to bring us back together as a nation?
I don't have the answer for that question, but I suspect not. For today though, I choose to focus on these three milestone events and the greatness that is America.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Yesterday, while delivering the best and most important speech of her political career, Hillary noted it was the 88th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment's ratification. Today, Barak Obama became the first African American to be nominated the presidential candidate for a major political party. Tomorrow, Obama will give his acceptance speech on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech.
All are important milestones on their own merits. But collectively, they show the ability of America to evolve. You see, we do not need to change America. America, is off course. We need a shift in many policies. But the fundamentals of America do not need change. Americans are strong. Americans are resourceful. Americans are capable of heroic acts of kindness and have the ability to do great things. These three events prove this point.
Can McCain or Obama offer us the leadership it will require to alter our course and steer us back onto the road? Do they have the intestinal fortitude to make the tough decisions and work with all Americans to bring us back together as a nation?
I don't have the answer for that question, but I suspect not. For today though, I choose to focus on these three milestone events and the greatness that is America.
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
If hear the word change one more time...
I may just lose my mind. How much us this change going to cost me? How much is this change going to cost the country? In addition to the financial cost, what will the moral and social cost be? We have problems in this great nation. But just uttering the word change incessantly will not solve our problems. In fact, change with out a good plan can be a disaster. What is the plan? Give me something!
There was a change in Pearl Harbor in 1941. That wasn't good for us was it? Did the citizens of Hiroshima like the change to their quaint town during WWII? How about the change in the New York City skyline in 2001? I know these are extreme examples but they highlight a fundamental truth, change for change sake is not necessarily a good thing.
Here is a good change, how about telling the truth! The social programs being discussed under an Obama presidency will be so expensive he will have to raise taxes. Raising taxes slows the economy. A slower economy means less jobs. Less jobs means more people needing public assistance. More people on public assistance leads to a form of European socialism. Is this what we want?
God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
Monday, August 25, 2008
Are you kidding me???
Ted Kennedy, who I consider the murderer of Mary Jo Kopechne, is, as I type, being celebrated as the hero of the Democrat Party. Nothing makes me more sick than the sight of his face. How did the convention attendees treat his "heroic" arrival at the convention in Denver? They gave him a tribute and a standing ovation.
This is one of the main reasons why as a younger man I had no respect for anyone who called them self a Democrat. This man's actions directly lead to the death of a young, vibrant woman who was the only child of Joseph and Gwen Kopechne. What was his punishment? He received a six month deferred sentence for leaving the scene of an accident. Outrageous! I guess it was good to be the son of a bootlegger who was in bed with the mob and the brother of a former President and former Atty. General.
How could any decent human being think Ted Kennedy is a good man? He is an alcoholic, murdering sub-human.
Many people site his record in the Senate since the incident to sweep the incident under the rug, almost as if it never happened. Well, I'm here to say it did happen. I don't care what he has done since. Even if I agreed with his politics I would think the same way. Once a killer, always a killer. Is why Ted has always been against the death penalty? He knows he cannot be prosecuted again, right?
Sorry for the rant. I know there are more important issues to muse about, but the moment I fired up my laptop and started watching the convention, he hit the stage.
Gad Bless Mary Jo and God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com
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