I just returned from a week in Panama City (the Canal – Central America – NOT Florida!) to be greeted by snow.

I am glad someone likes it!

I love the beast – hate the snow…

I have an old friend, a guy I did business with and genuinely enjoyed on a personal level, who happens to be a democratic strategist focusing on progressive candidates involved in local elections. While he and I haven’t been in close correspondence in a long while (Allan, its overdue, and I intend to drop you a line one of these days,) he does update his Facebook page, so I get to lurk and voyeuristically see what he is doing and thinking. We couldn’t be more different on fiscal policy – but some of the things I have learned and realized while viewing his stream have been illuminating to my simple, myopic and sheltered mind.

1.    Democrats – those who are devotees of the party, seem to want to lash out at the tea party and Republicans equally. Naturally, they choose whichever is the easier target during the course of any given debate or discussion. Regardless of my personal political differences, I think most of the country is angry because  we remember the basic lesson from kindergarten, it takes TWO to tango. We the people are incensed (to my mind justifiably) with everyone in the political ruling class, not one party or the other, and not with the groundswell of last ditch elected officials who attempt to change the status quo but cant go far enough to fix issues within a broken system. We may be at a point of trying to rebuild the decks while the ship is sinking and on fire all at the same time.

2.    Democrats seem to think that the data they are given is correct, and reliable. They then quote it ad nauseum. Anyone who has ever professionally managed money in the markets knows this to be a fallacy – the ratings agencies lie, the governments numbers are consistently corrected months after the release to reflect the true horror (how come in 18 years of watching the markets I have never seen a correction that says things are better than we previously reported – not once!!!) One can’t even begin a debate on policy, when one can’t rely on the facts, or can reliably not rely on the facts.

3.     There seems to be a lot of democratic angst now expressing outwards in anger and vitriol aimed at the Tea Party. Hilarious to me, and many like me, who feel that the Tea Party was in and of itself a horrid compromise, and miniscule steps better than the established Donkeys and Elephants – but in NO way came close to our view of what should be done to correct this countries ills. If lefties realized how truly far off base the Tea Party was compared to what the large numbers of people who think we are heading to disaster really want to see happen – well it would be instant cardiac events all around. Seriously, increase taxes a few more billion on those who have access to private planes? Balance the budget and keep tax cuts in place? Its all a bunch of stalling actions that in no way will avert disaster when it comes to entitlement spending and unfunded accounts. We were creating this tempest in a teapot regarding miniscule debating points that are rounding errors on the true mess.

4.    SuperCongress? Really? HUH? I don’t want to really open a debate on the move from our current state of fascism (that was not hyperbole, look up the definition if necessary) to a ruling junta – but they aren’t even doing a half assed job on the propaganda side of things. We failed at compromise, so lets put together a small supergroup to push through decisions they have arrived at without even a token nod at representational government. How did the left conclude this was a good idea? Prior to this, I just assumed we all kinda sorta mebbe believed in the concept of our constitution, but approached social and fiscal issues differently. Sure, maybe they wanted more social programs, and I wanted less – but we were all Americans. This one is so far over the line, that I am shaking my head in wonder at which left field it came from. Really, I had NO idea that those who were more Kumbayah than I, were not just different, but alien. This isn’t updating a document (something I would disagree with categorically, thats what amendments are for) this is shredding, burning, and composting the core of our republic.

No great surprises in my posting, I think we are on the road to ruin. I wish it were different. I am happy I don’t have children currently, but weep for my nieces and nephews.

Update note – I wrote this a few days back (pre 9/11) and now post 9/11+10 I am even more disheartened. Apparently, we mourn and remember loss, but now okay the opening of diplomatic relations with the perpetrators of the tragedy by giving them the permission to establish offices in neutral territory. Since when is terrorism (or, in this case, terrorist organizations) a local issue – i.e. not ok in Afghanistan, but ok in Qatar? I seem to recall that the whole thing happened when they brought it to our shores (and the Gulf of Yemen, and Europe, and  Japan) Its GLOBAL you morons! How on gods green earth is this ok? How many lives lost chasing the Taliban from Afghanistan (and I do not approve of that folly anyhow,) how much money spent? Oh, its like Vietnam, unwinnable. I know, lets follow Clinton and make enemies into friends by entering into trade agreements with them. We can’t beat them, lets try the Economic Hitman model.

Maybe, if they are making enough money selling us heroin and opium (don’t get me started, drug wars are another posting) they will forget to include the C4 in those shipments!

The better half and I often have differing design tastes, but once in a while we agree on something fantastic – or horrific. Not quite sure which category this one belongs in, but it is hilarious, and I don’t really give a darn what the neighbors think. As to visitors, those we welcome, they most likely will find this hilarious as well…

I am home sick today, and messing with the new blog layout as customized by the fantastic George of ECC Design.

Content will start to be added soon!