The little things, I can obey.
But the big things
how we think,
what we value
those you must choose yourself.
You can't let anyone
or any society
determine those for you.
Morrie Schwartz
Political Potpourri
Congressman Jackson, who was just reelected and once had Senate ambitions, resigned today, the timing of which may cost the state millions for a special election. There was some earlier speculation that his wife, a local politician, would run in his place. Jackson has not been at work for months. I'm sure that a conservative won't succeed him but I think his putting his political ambitions ahead of his constituents is unethical and thus has earned a nomination for my Tongue-in-Cheek JOTY award.
I am somewhat amused by the ludicrous pundit analyses of the election--I've already dismissed the talking point of the Obama "landslide"--the last I checked Obama's margin of victory was a little less than Bush's reelection and not even pro-Bush forces characterized his victory as a landslide.
The concept of a mandate is also not respectable. The idea that Obama in 2008 was elected on the basis of 2000-page laws on health care and finance, never mind massive government spending dressed up in stimulus, is preposterous.Whereas some supporters (maybe 1 in 5 voters) wanted progressive policies, the moderates and independents who carried Obama to victory certainly did not sign on for Reid's corrupt wheeling-and-dealing putting the future of their own favorably appraised health insurance at risk. In fact, Obama has been a passive leader, basically taking credit for noxious agreements between super majority partisans in the Congress. As for a 2012 "mandate" for an election campaign largely based on personal attacks on Romney, Obama not only didn't run on his record (except in opaque terms) but didn't even attempt to introduce a plan until around the final debate and even that was little more than warmed over rhetoric about
As for a second-term agenda the House is in firm control of the GOP and given mid-terms usually go against the incumbent. In any event, the Senate GOP can also hobble any hope of a spendthrift activist agenda And the Senate will be back in play in 2014 with most of the seats up for grabs Dem with a few in red or purple states.
Ann Coulter, a key conservative Romney supporter, scoffs at a typical ideological conservative like Judy Beth Martin bashing Romney. She points out that Reagan did not run an ideological campaign and even attempts to argue that Romney was the most libertarian GOP Presidential candidate since Coolidge (there is not a single libertarian conservative or libertarian I know who considers Romney a libertarian or free market guy).
What Romney Didn't Say To Address the Gender Gap
Define Central Planning: For Me, A Single Point of Failure
Entertainment Potpourri
NBA players get into the spirit of the season with "Carol of the Balls"
Musical Interlude: My Favorite Groups
The Carpenters, "Goofus". This song, a remake of a 1930 tune, is not a favorite although Karen's singing prowess makes a vocally difficult song sound effortless. Although it hit #4 on the A/C chart, it broke a string of #1 or #2 released singles starting in 1970. The group would hit the A/C Top 10 only 5 more times and #1 once more.
I'm going to resume the Carpenters series after New Year's, I've usually had an end-of-year holiday theme under my miscellany format. I hate to repeat myself or prior year themes. This year starting tomorrow I'll call it 'Christmas Retrospective', including relevant movie, TV or nostalgic hit tunes.
