Has anybody seen my old friend John?

Like many who are concerned with the future of our country, I watched the third and final debate last night. I listened as McCain hammered away about nonsense and both candidates danced around how they'll handle the huge mess and bigger deficit that will be left them by George W. (worst president ever) Bush.

I will still vote for Obama. Nothing said last night changed my mind. What amazes me is that there are still undecided voters. Why? Is there truly a question about letting the republicans craft any more dangerous and disastrous policy?

I am realistic and cynical enough to know that Obama will not be able to do miracles. His options will be severely limited. In addition, the right wing will immediately act to undercut his authority and effectiveness. Imagine it like the invasion of Iraq; Saddam's people knew they'd lose the war, but counted on an insurgency that lasted indefinitely. The republicans and more importantly the money people behind them do not want a return to stricter times. The last thing these modern day robber barons would like is to be scrutinized, caught, prosecuted and imprisoned for their crimes.

My father-in-law and I discussed the possibility of Obama losing simply because he is black. I am sad to say the potential for that happening is there. When I view the poll numbers the undecided ones scare me. Those seem to be the folks holding out for McCain to finally do something, anything really, that would help them justify in their little bitty bigoted minds, not voting for Obama.

This election is not only a referendum on 8 years of failed policy and governance by BushCo, but also a referendum on how far we've come in our society. If Obama loses this election it will say to me that all the long decades of civil rights have been meaningless, at least when it comes to the top job in our government. If that happens it will expose a level of hypocrisy and bigotry not believed to be the norm in our society.

I remain hopeful that Obama will win and win big. A mandate to fix this crappy situation would be nice. Then I will pray most fervently that Barack H. Obama will be up to the task at hand.

Because last night, in the last debate, I watched the devolution of a man who once had my respect. John McCain is a proven war hero and has served his country. How well he has served may be up for discussion, but the man has devoted his career to public service. He seemed so far removed from reality and so unable to calmly, thoughtfully present a reason to vote for him instead of Obama, that many felt sorry for the man. Should he lose this election, and I pray that he will, I wonder if he'll look back at his bevy of bad decisions, his appalling choice of running mate and the awkward, angry and way too negative campaign and understand what he did wrong.

He could have been something if he'd been elected in 2000 instead of the idiot. Last night I learned (sadly) why he couldn't beat George in the primaries. Too bad, so sad, so long John.

RT

Has anybody seen my old friend John?

Listen to your Father - In - Law

Vicki and I are living with her parents for a while. They are great people who have watched the country get whacky and wonder why, how, and when will it stop.


At breakfast this morning my father-in-law stated that he didn't like the idea of bailing out people who couldn't pay their mortgages. I said that we would really be helping them keep their homes and pay less in mortgage payments. His reply was what's the government going to do for him. "If the fucking government is giving away money then I want some of it" was his sentiment.


I am afraid a lot of seniors or elders as Ronni Bennett at Times Goes By calls them might feel that way.


Here's the thing. We have already committed to spending at least 700 billion dollars in the finance industry. Wouldn't it be nice if some of that actually went towards stopping foreclosures and keeping people in their homes?


My belief is that is a certain amount of schadenfreude is going on with folks over the mortgage mess. OK, I get that, but in the end none of us really wants a country where millions walk away from their homes. The economic displacement and social consequences are not pretty. Yet we may well see many millions of folks lose their homes.


How about some economic triage? Couldn't we get to those most in need first and help them with some of this 700 billion dollars. At the point we're giving money to banks to cover bad paper, are we really helping the mortgage holders at all? Or are we just helping investors with more money than sense?

A scary, conspiracy inspired thought occurred to me during the last few days.

What if Bush is really just the stalking horse for the New World Order? After all he's managed to bring down the world economy and most nations have now nationalized their banks, in essence insuring the fat cats will be protected. Again, it's just a thought, but wouldn't that be the pits; Bush, the so-called conservative being the actor who socializes the world?

Far out; you bet. Crazy talk; maybe. Still, it makes you wonder how a dumbass psuedo cowboy, Yalie, ex-Texas governor ever got to be president of our country and father the worst administration and worst results since the great depression.

Now they want to have a Right-wingnut VP within a heart attack of being president. The republicans have truly jumped the shark on this one.

The Daily Husband

We made it

A view of the San Fransisco Peaks from 38 miles away. The peaks are over 11,000 feet high. We once lived in Flagstaff at their feet.

For those keeping track we made it to Arizona in one piece. Vicki and I spent most of yesterday afternoon unloading a moving van (just ten feet of one) with helpers into a storage unit in Chandler, AZ a southern suburb of Phoenix.

We're staying with Vicki's folks, enjoying the great weather in Arizona in the fall, helping them around their house and starting to think about jobs, a rental house and stuff like that.

In the meantime I'm posting from a Starbucks a couple of blocks from the In-Law's house. I read a lot of my reader's blogs today and everyone is rightly concerned with the nasty, racial, hate-filled tone of the McCain/Palin bunch. If you want the definition of bigot, just look up Palin in the dictionary. It almost seems as if they mean to revive the KKK.

We've let our country swing so far right that I listened at breakfast this morning to a member of my In-Law's church describe the Arizona Republic ( a noted right wing rag for 60 years) as too far left for him. Really?

At the same table another gentleman told me that he considered all democrats unpatriotic. Wow? And these folks are going to vote. If we speak again without the wives present I will ask this man point blank if he thinks electing an ignorant twit like Sarah Palin is patriotic.

Oh well, this state has always been a repugnant stronghold and it's not likely to change. Still, it would be nice to hear someone with some sense. Oh, and I did. My father-in-law totally gets it. He thinks Bush, the republicans and our government in general has sold us all down the river. Amen to that!

So I guess the good news is that he and I won't be having any heated political arguments while we're staying with them.

It cooled off enough yesterday that we had a fire in their backyard firepit and watched the almost full moon last night. I smoked a celebratory cigar and downed some brewskies after a day of moving furniture. All is well.

The Daily Husband

My Awesome Enid Grandkids

Now most of you who have read my blog know that I tend to like adults more than kids. We had 5 in the house at one time for a while and I pretty much had my fill of children. Yet I never tire of my grandkids company and my two in Enid, Tristen and Bailey are a joy.

Our middle daughter Jamie and her husband Ken live here in Enid, Oklahoma with Tristen, Bailey, two dogs - Precious and Brandy and two cats - Snoball and Boots. Their home in the suburbs is a rambling rancher with room for all. We have spent two very enjoyable days here participating in their lives.

We went to Tristen's football practice one night. (Pictured below)

Then to a football game the next. His team, the Plainsmen, won 34 to 0. Tristen played quarterback and end. He threw a touchdown pass from the end position on a trick play and ran the team for two more touchdown drives. I was impressed at the level of play for what to an adult looked like midgets playing football.

That's Tristen at Quarterback!

We had a really great time at the game, then came back to have birthday cake for a late birthday celebration for Bailey.

Today we brought the kids over to the pool here at the hotel and enjoyed some swimming in the indoor pool.

We always enjoy ourselves in Enid. The place has that small town feel, that touch of Americana that reminds you what most of our country used to be like. And of course for us it's the chance to spend some time and visit with our awesome Enid grandkids.

My daughters continue to amaze and impress me with their families and children. This is one of the benefits of staying alive long enough to watch your kids raise their families.

The Daily Husband

When Right is Wrong!

I have said that this election is about having the courage to vote for a black man as president. Some commenters have argued that it's not. I'm glad someone else has said what needs to be said to all the closet bigots and crackers out there who would do our country the great disservice of perpetuating republican rule and therefore rampant republican corruption by electing McCain/Palin. Just because they can't bring themselves to vote for a person of color.

GET OVER YOURSELVES ALREADY!

My thanks to Lisa at Politics after 50 for posting this video today on her blog.

This year my friends is when we have seen just how wrong the right can be.

The Daily Husband Husband

Myrtle Beach

We made it. The house closing went smoothly and we got out of Dodge in good fashion. We rolled into Myrtle Beach around 10:30 last night and it only took us 15 minutes to find the Ocean and our hotel.

Vic is upstairs finishing getting ready and I thought I'd write a quick post and put up a couple of pictures taken from our balcony. I love the ocean and it's a great feeling when you wake up to a sea view.

Today will be filled with nothing and everything. Ah, the life of a gypsy.

The Daily Husband