So, trying to put the nicest spin I can on this, I hope Republican stalwarts pay attention to what Jeb has to say. Here are some of the points I hope they pay attention to.
“I think we need to change the tone of the conversation as it relates to immigration.”
“We have to actually be proposing solutions to what appear to be intractable problems as it relates to education, health care, infrastructure.”
Good! Excellent! Nothing would make me happier than Republicans engaging in reasoned arguments based on facts, principle, and evidence. Bring it on. And, the more solutions offered the better. Why would anyone even feel compelled to mention this? Why wouldn’t they offer solutions?
I’m not sure what he means when he states that Republicans should “organize ourselves in the form of a shadow government.” Really? What does that even mean? Why not participate in the non-shadow government? Why exert all this energy on a “shadow” government? Does Jeb Bush think Al Gore should have said, after his loss in 2000, that Democrats needed to form a shadow government?
Another awkwardly phrased statement I don’t really understand is that “there are ways that we can show that we are truly on the side of the people that are concerned about the future of the country, without abandoning our principles.” This sounds like it’s a fine line that must be walked between abandoning their principles and showing that they are on the side of the people concerned about the future. What is this delicate balance? Why isn’t being concerned about the future an easy and easily explicable part of Republican principles?
Watching the interview all I can think is that Jeb Bush and I understand the world in profoundly different ways.
And, now that I watch it, rather then simply read the excerpts, I can’t help but wonder why Jeb Bush doesn’t stop his lunatic characterization of liberalism if he really wants to “change the tone.”
He says that it’s shocking that a liberal would run on a platform of cutting taxes. If he truly believes this then he has no concept of what liberalism means. I wonder if he’s educable? If presented with facts, evidence, history, and cogent argument, would Jeb Bush characterize liberalism fairly? Or, is he so embedded in repeating the Republican false accusations that he will never be able to engage in honest and principled debate? He persists toward the end of the interview in mischaracterizing Obama’s tax policy. It’s like a compulsive tic. He then carries out the canard that “we don’t know much about him” despite Obama writing three books, and having been in public service much of his adult life. Anyone who is interested can find out a hell of a lot more about Obama than than they can uncover about anyone in the Bush family.
His awesome solution for attracting minority voters into the Republican party? Remind them that we can all hate gays! I think this is going to be a significant Republican strategy over the next few election cycles. Republicans will soon be advertising themselves as the big tent of fag-bashing.
I completely agree with his assessment that education is a problem in the US, but I have a hard time buying his solutions without some evidence to back them up. More technology? I think we need more teachers. No tenure? We need to strengthen the tenure system at colleges and universities and reduce our reliance on adjuncts and grad students. Tenure in primary and secondary schools? I don’t know so much about that, I’d be interested in hearing the arguments from all sides.
And finally, what is a “passion for reform?” And, how does this passion for reform fit with conservative values of adhering to tradition and ensuring that change is incremental rather than radical? Is the Republican party ready to abandon all pretense of conservatism?
I haven’t been sprinkled with pixie dust, and believe our world’s economy will turn around by Christmas.I do believe this.This year’s edition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is definitely beginning to take on the traits of that Super Bowl team not too many years ago.
No, I am not saying this is a Super Bowl team.I am saying they appear to be showing the same dimensions that season’s Super Bowl squad did at this time of the season.Brad Johnson managed the game.Jeff Garcia is managing the game.Defense answered the bell.This defense is doing the same, with forced turnovers running a parallel path.You want more.The Bucs had a mid/late season four game win streak.The Bucs win streak as of today is four.There is one difference.The Super Bowl team lost to New Orleans 23-20, almost to the day back in 2002 (Dec.1).They went on to win three of their four remaining games.
We’ll be just like the Buccaneer players, taking it one game at a time.I’m just pointing out these little observations that could lead to much bigger events in the not to distant future.First, Carolina Monday night right here on ABC Action News.We’ll continue this discussion at a later date.
I had the pleasure of visiting Monticello for the Thanksgiving Holidays and picked up some of Thomas Jefferson's Wisdom to pass along to parents and Gen Y. Thomas Jefferson's Ten Rules
1. Never put off tomorrow what you can do today. 2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have earned it. 4. Never buy what you don't want because it is cheap. 5. Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold. 6. We seldom repent of having eaten too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain the evils have cost us that never happened. 9. Take things always by the smooth handle. 10. When angry, count ten before you speak, if very angry, count a hundred.
I’ll let Cassie over at Bolts Blog summarize this one up to a T:
Oh, look. Another trade. I was thinking that it was about time for that again. And they’re trading away another defenseman for yet another forward. Yep, that’s pretty much par for the course with this team so far this season.
Looks like that [...]
Florida State, the once mighty king of college football is now an also-ran. They’ve been beaten every which way you can imagine. And not just by the insanely talented Gator teams of the last five years. But the proportionally mediocre squads of the ACC have had their way with the Noles as well. I just [...]
Maestro Zappa's music may not yet be widely-known in these parts--certainly the vast majority of it never hit America's commercial airwaves, save a handful of humor songs--but in Europe, Scandinavia, South America, and even the Middle East, fans and musicians alike listen to, and are inspired by, Zappa's rock, blues, jazz, fusion, and neoclassical compositions.
Tribute bands abound in Finland and the Czech Republic, and some of the world's most talented musicians continue to study and perform challenging classical pieces like Dog Breath Variations (as above, in which video members of the Teheran Symphony Orchestra tackle the complex piece) and Outrage at Valdez.
I'll be posting a goodly amount of Frank Zappa material this month, in honor of Zappadan--December 4-21--when "all our blogs belong to Zappa". (As if I needed an excuse!) Info here:
Finally, here's a double dose (so to speak) of FZ wit: Joe's Garage followed by Why Does it Hurt When I Pee?
LOCAL SCHOOLS TEAMING UP FOR SUPER BOWL PROJECT TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED
Schools in the Tampa Bay area are teaming up with the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee and the NFL Youth Education Towns (YET) of Tampa Bay for a Super Bowl project that puts books and sports equipment into the hands of children in need. The project, called Super Kids-Super Sharing, has been implemented in Super Bowl host communities for the past nine years and has placed tens of thousands of books and pieces of sports equipment into the hands of children in need. There is still time for area schools to join in this year’s effort.
Beginning in December, participating schools will ask their students to donate gently used or new books and sports equipment. A week before Super Bowl, donated items will be brought to a collection point where they will be sorted, then distributed to pre-selected schools and organizations.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn will champion the Super Kids-Super Sharing project. “This Super Bowl project is all about kids helping other kids,” said Dunn. “It’s a great chance for students to get involved and help out other children.”
For the first time, local football fans also have an opportunity to participate in Super Kids-Super Sharing. On Sunday, November 30, fans can help kickoff the project by bringing new or gently used sports equipment to the Buccaneers home game. Volunteers from the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee will collect the donated equipment at all gates and club entrances when fans check in.
Schools will begin their own collections in January. The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Hillsborough County Public Schools and Pinellas County Schools have all signed on to participate. Individual schools in those districts and in outlying areas interested in collecting books and sports equipment as part of Super Kids-Super Sharing may sign up by contacting Susan Groh at (401) 732-1551 or NFLenvironment@aol.com. The NFL provides instructions, posters, flyer templates and other materials to make it easy for schools to implement this project.
Super Kids-Super Sharing is part of the NFL’s environmental initiative for Super Bowl. The NFL Environmental Program plays an active role behind the scenes at Super Bowl. In addition to Super Kids-Super Sharing, the NFL Environmental Program ensures that tens of thousands of pounds of unserved prepared food from Super Bowl events are distributed to local shelters and community kitchens. The Environmental Program is also responsible for recycling cardboard and other materials from Super Bowl events and donates everything from decorative banners to building materials to local non-profit agencies. Several tree planting projects will be developed as part of Super Bowl. ‘Green power’ will also be used to power Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl XLIII and to power the NFL Experience Football Theme Park.
The NFL Environmental Program is just one of a large number of community events and initiatives implemented each year by the NFL to leave a positive legacy in each Super Bowl host community.
We probably would be better off spending each day being thankful for all the blessings in our lives! I KNOW I have been far more fortunate than I deserve and remain overwhelmed at the wonderful people that are in my life....
Obie came home for Thanksgiving!
Linda had turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, broccoli casserole, cranberry sauce and the list goes on - just an INCREDIBLE feast and an awesome afternoon! Courtney and Doug came over to enjoy the day, pig out and watch some football - it just doesn't get any better!
Charlie, Brook and Ava went to Louisville to spent the holiday with the fabulous Cliftons! Brook's parents have been another addition to the list to be thankful for!
Friday we continued the Thanksgiving treats! We went with Courtney and Doug for a 4D ultrasound to see Ty - our grandson that will making his appearance in late January!!! It was truly amazing as we watched Ty go through his exercises on the monitor in front of us! Doug's children, Riley and Gage came along and had their camera and cell phones popping, taking pictures of their little brother to be!
Every year the fine folks at the Joker Marchant Stadium Merchandise Store make it easy for my family to buy me Christmas presents. This year the sale kicks off Saturday, December 6, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
What will you find?: “Select Detroit Tigers, Spring Training and Flying Tigers merchandise up to 50 percent off the regular retail price. Discounted items include the Flying Tigers military style caps as well as Detroit Tigers fitted caps. Vintage Lakeland Tigers and All-Star merchandise will be available at cost.”
The full dates for the sale:
Saturday, Dec 6: 9am - 4pm
Tuesday, Dec 9: 1pm - 7pm
Wednesday, Dec 10: 1pm - 7pm
Thursday, Dec 11: 1pm - 7pm
Saturday, Dec 13: 9am - 4pm
Tuesday, Dec 16: 1pm - 7pm
Wednesday, December 17 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 18 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
When the BCS poll comes out tomorrow, the Oklahoma Sooners should be the team that gets the nod to play Missouri in the Big 12 Championship game. It’s a lousy system the conference is going by, but it is what it is.
Oklahoma beat Oklahoma State 61-41. Lot of points scored. Lots of points allowed. But we will say this, the Big 12 wins the battle for style points this season. Here’s my Top 10.
1. Alabama (Florida next)
2. Oklahoma (They hung in there)
3. Florida ( Beat ‘Bama or bust)
4. Texas (Longhorns might still be there at the end)
5. USC
6. Penn State
7. Texas Tech (almost faded completely against Baylor)
8. Utah
9. Ohio State
10. Boise State (thanks to Georgia, Oky. St.,and Missouri all losing)
We have become so reliant on air conditioning and heating that we sometimes forget to take advantage of the inherent good design found in our historic homes. As the weather gets more pleasant this fall, consider taking a few steps to operate your historic house more energy efficiently, and save some money in the process. The following are some ideas to consider:Unstick any windows that are
It will all come down to next Saturday at the Georgia Dome.Florida vs. Alabama.Winner goes to BCS National Championship game in Miami; loser goes to the Sugar Bowl.
Even if Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State tonight, Missouri’s loss to Kansas today will hurt the quality of the Big 12 Conference title game.Had Missouri won, they might have jumped to 12th in the country, maybe 11th.Instead, the Tigers will fall hard.
As for the Gators, they pounded Florida State on the road, in a steady to driving rain. Alabama pounded Auburn.So, as we see it, there is no way now that Florida will not jump to at least the #2 position with a win over Alabama next weekend.
The stars have aligned for Urban Meyer’s Gators.As the old saying goes….They win, they’re in.
I hate funerals. Even when people call them "a celebration of so-and-so's life," you can't hide what's going on: someone has died and some people are sad, some people feel guilty, and some people feel guilty that they don't feel sad.
Tom Merrifield died last month. October 25, to be precise. I'm going to go ahead and assume that most of you don't know him by name, which is OK. He was the guy who owned the banner towing planes that puttered up and down the Pinellas beaches for the past 30 years.
God, he could be a jerk.
What, you want me to lie? Have we MET? The guy was harsh with people at times.
A local beach paper ran a short article about Tom and made him sound like a friggin' saint. Why can't people just stand up and say, "Man, the guy was kind of an asshole, but that's what I liked about him. He was a decent guy who happened to be human, he had a scary need for companionship, he often spoke derisively to his friends, and once he pissed me off so badly I threw him out of my car, but you know what? The world needs more people like him, because at least he was real and not some bullshit chex mix/soccer mom/bridge playing motherfucker?"
In case you're wondering, yes, we had words on more than one occasion. The last time he and I spoke he got made at me, but then he calmed himself down and we talked for about an hour. And one of the very last things he said to me was that he wanted people to sit around at his funeral and talk about "One time, with Tom..." and remember him that way.
His friends "celebrated his life" a month after his death (today) so here goes...
One time, with Tom, we drove out to an airfield in Kissimmee and I backed the trailer over part of a gas pump.
One time, with Tom, we rented a boat and went fishing one of the artificial reefs. It was the first time I saw flying fish, and dolphin rode our bow wave.
One time, with Tom, we went kingfishing and we ended up bludgeoning the kingfish so badly--it would NOT die--that if FWC saw our boat we would have gone to jail for murder while they launched a massive search for the body. Note on that one: after we beat the hell out of this fish it still flopped around in the cooler for a full five minutes.
More than one time with Tom, we went fishing every week out of Tierra Verde. He loved to fish; he obsessed over fishing. He would buy different line and it wasn't enough that he had it, he'd put it on our lines, too. He'd fish off the seawall at the end of 18 at SPG; he'd fish off the dock at Tierra Verde while we waited for a boat. Of course, on at least one occasion I had to take the fish off the hook for him, but he loved the fishing part.
One time with Tom he bought Tom (another Tom) a crab trap and we put it out while we fished and then pulled it out later... and got a cowfish and spider crabs.
One time, because of Tom Merrifield, I had the coolest summer job in the world: banner towing ground crew. Without sounding too hippy-dippy, he understood what it meant to "follow your bliss."
As usual, now that he's gone people will realize what they couldn't appreciate while he was alive (I think sometimes his mouth didn't help, either, which is what I loved about him so much, I recognized a kindred spirit): he was a good guy. He was an asshole, he was a moody sonofabitch, but he was a good guy, and I am a better person for having known him. He helped me be who I am right now, and for that alone I should have told him while he was alive how much I appreciated him. He treated his friends well and when he liked you, you would not want for anything and he would work his brain double and triple time to find a way to solve your problems. Since he was a very, very smart man, he usually came up with a pretty viable solution.
I'm not saying this well and I'm not saying it very eloquently at all, but let's leave it at this: he used to hassle me about not dressing up and wearing high heels and a dress and makeup. Not only did I go to his funeral, the only one I've been to in almost ten years, I wore a dress, makeup, and high heels, just because it would have made him happy, and he would maybe have understood that I valued knowing him. I really, really wish I'd done it while he was alive.
Of course, he would have made some incredibly insensitive remark that would have just pissed me off and we would have fought, but, ah, such is life.
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Don't just blab all day, if you are going to be building anything this year make sure your builders have surety bonds Protect your projects and investments!
