All Politics are Local

First of all, I'd like to thank Kay for joining my group of loyal followers.

OK, so is anyone else living in New Jersey offended that this year's round of congressional races is labeled the mid-term elections, while last year's races were the mini-mid-terms? Our governorship was on the line, and a new governor was elected, and the media treated it as though it wasn't that big a deal. Until Chris Christie won, of course. Then, it became a referendum on Barack Obama.

Last year's election wasn't a referendum on the president, or congress, or health care, or anything else. It was a judgement on former governor Jon Corzine, who didn't do enough to fix our state, so he was voted out. That was it. So dismiss that election is one thing, but to then say it was a referendum on our president afterwards is uber-insulting.

I think it all goes along with our misplaced national mentality that says every election is a national issue. It isn't. Scott Brown is Massachusetts' newest senator because Martha Coakley didn't know how to spell the name of the state in which she was running, among other reasons. The Democrats put up a bad candidate; I'm pretty sure the bluest state in the Union didn't suddenly turn red because of a health care policy that's not as liberal as what those people have in their state.

The old saying is 'All politics are local.' The new slogan seems to be the exact opposite, although I believe there's less meaning behind it. So the next time you hear someone say the liberal agenda is dead just because the 'Liberal' Democrats don't hold a Super-Majority anymore, ... um, ... well, ... don't listen, I guess.

TEA PARTY, ANYONE?: I love to drink tea. My wife collects tea cups. You won't see either one of us at a tea party rally anytime soon, however. Is this a movement or the beginning of a political party? I'd like to know. And if it's the beginning of a party, can't they at least get a better representative than Sarah Palin? What's Ross Perot up to these days?

I understand Palin might be consevative, although I doubt she's the most conservative member of the Republican Party, but I can't listen to her say, 'How's that Hopey Changey stuff workin out for ya?' (Maybe a sign I should watch the news less). Here's what I say to her: How's that plan you had for Alaska as governor working out? Oh, you quit? Was there a scandal? No? Did you accomplish everything you wanted mad early? No? Well what is it?

Oh you wanted to hang out on Facebook more and consider running for president? What's your plan? To criticize the president, and not be real clear on what it is that makes you a qualified politician? Huh.

When I was in high school, I fantasized about running for president when I turned 37. It's good to know I'm already a step ahead of a serious Republican candidate for 2012.

MEETING ON TV?: When running for president, Barack Obama promised to have legislation discussed on C-Span, and now it looks like it might happen. It only took a year, and he was prompted into it by the right, who is saying they're open to televised discussions as long as they start from scratch, which everyone knows won't happen. So we won't get that televised discussion, and Obama will continue to be criticized, and it will bother him.

Hey Obama, you and your party run everything right? So just do something. Instead of heeding the warning not to 'ram legislation down our throats' why don't you at least try to get something passed. Eventually, you probably will actually have to ram it down conservatives' throats, but the first step to that is showing that you're actually serious about something.

And don't worry about losing votes to Republicans. Any smart liberal that is made Democrats didn't get health care reform passed isn't going to go vote for a party that clearly has no interest in reforming health care at all; they'll vote for more liberal third party candidates. So as long as your party continues to go after the Ralph Naders of the world, you guys should seriously have no problem come November.

As for that conservative movement we keep hearing about, refer to the aforementioned Tea Party.

HEY ISRAEL, GUESS WHAT THE FUCK'S UP: Iran's moving forward on a plan to enrich uranium, which is a step toward developing Nuclear Weapons. How long does the rest of the world have to threaten Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and company with sanctions before you get the hint and blow them back to times in which they think they still live. You will suffer most from a nuclear-armed Iran. The rest of the world will just be inconvenienced, but secretly celebrate once you get the hint.