January 2009 - Posts
As a pretty conservative person (at least from the aspect of domestic policy), I struggle with partisan politics. I can't say I have been happy with the way the GOP has handled this country over the last 8 years. I wouldn't say that it was all GWBush's fault (he shares in it, though) since we know that he had the Karl Rove/Dick Cheney/Paul Wolfowicz/<insert psycho warhawk lunatic name here> clan behind him whispering in his ear. I'd like to think that the party that gave us Abraham Lincoln can do better. On the other hand, spend-to-fix domestic policy scares me a bit as well. That's one reason that even though I didn't care for Bill Clinton, I think he was a pretty good president in hind-sight. Note that slick-Willy is the only president in my lifetime to pass a budget with a surplus. As a domestic/fiscal conservative, it is hard to deny that was a good thing.
But, all of that is neither here nor there, because the country is now faced with a domestic situation that will require action, and we will be paying for it for a long time (and this would have been true with McCain as well, realistically). So from that perspective, we just have to put our trust in the legislature to not do put too much garbage in whatever package gets passed (so far, I'm not confident, but I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt).
However, there is another aspect to the executive branch that has become paramount -- foreign relations. In this aspect, I definitely think party association has nothing to with success. Reagan was good at it. Carter was pretty damn good at it (probably had more success during the Reagan years, than during his own presidency, but whatever). I think Bill Clinton was reasonably good at it. W listened to the wrong people and got caught up in his own tornado. Regardless of who became president, we had a situation that needed remedy as badly as the economy needs help. As a result of the actions of our leaders and by proxy, our military, we have alienated a lot of populations on this planet, and not for the greater good (as is sometimes required). We need to mend those relationships and restore the worldview that the USA is a good, fair, helpful, strong country. Obviously we won't get the Taliban and Al Qaeda to love us, but that's not the point. The point is that the USA should want the undecided people in the world to view the US positively so they are less likely to think actions against our people, interests, and allies are a good idea or justified.
This article, to me, is exactly why we needed something different. Whether there is actually much difference at all in the way things work in the White House is actually somewhat secondary to the world perception that change is already upon us. That perception has almost as much value as the change itself.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/29/syed.obama/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Okay, enough politicking, back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Last night while Josh and I were mellowing between the time when Caleb headed to bed and the time when Josh had to hit the sack, he told me he thought he would become a philoposer. I asked him what that was.
He said "you know, Dad, in ancient Greece there were people whose only job was to think."
I said "Philosophers?"
"Yeah, Philosophers. I would make a great philosopher." he said.
"Why is that, Josh?" I queried.
"Can't you see how I think all of the time, Dad? I am always thinking. I'd make a great philosopher!"
It was hard to argue with his logic, and stifle my laughter. He is a rather ponderous young one, but I thought this was perhaps a bit much, even for him.
The last week in Southeast Michigan (away from the major urban centers) has been cold. Temperatures just barely getting above 0F during the day, overnight, dipping down to the -15F range. Hopefully we're about to snap that streak, but it has been bad enough. I've been wrestling with the Jeep to keep the radiator from slushing up, and it seems like the furnace is on constantly. Estimates are that the average household will spend 10%+ more than usual on heating this winter in this area. There is talk of water levels getting back to normal on the Great Lakes and our snowfall has been above normal and ice coverage on the lakes is the best I've seen in years.
The globe may be getting warmer, but let me tell you, right here in SE Michigan, this winter is not. With that said, it's barely cold here, compared to Wisconsin and Minnesota (and some place in the UP in Michigan, I am sure) where temps have been down around -40F and colder. Now, that's cold...
This is so ridiculous it makes me giggle.
http://www.track16.com/exhibitions/2009-01-10-iff/photos.php
I know I have had some odd inclinations in my life, but never have I felt compelled to crochet a coral reef.
After spending some time with both sets of families we are back home and unpacked and settled back in. It will still be rude awakening tomorrow heading back the office for me and to school for the boy, but I am quite sure we'll survive. The one hiccup is that the Jeep appears to be in need of at least a thermostat, and possibly a new radiator, so I will likely be spending my free time this week (well, at least tomorrow night) working on that, so that I can drive it to work and back and leave the HHR for Jodes. Oh well, I'll deal with that later...
Many gifts, many fun meals, and much time spent with loved ones we don't see as much as we would like. Highlights for me are a renewal of our family membership at the Toledo Zoo, a new fly-tying vise, a nice sweater/fleece, and a couple new games for the 360. The kids got lots of random toys, and they got their own little age-appropriate video game machine -- a V-Tech VMotion (http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm?productID=635). It is a little low-tech (graphics are about the same as an original NES, or maybe worse), but it is better than watching Joshua and Caleb play the free Doritos Dash of Destruction arcade game repeatedly on the XBox (which they're more than happy to do).
I hope you and your families all enjoyed the holiday season, and that you had safe, fun, happy travels.