While I’m certainly not a Obama supporter, he has done a good job of energizing his base and derailing the assumed coronation of would-be queen HRC. Clinton, a formidable opponent, appears poised to “go to the mattresses”, and begin campaigning Soprano’s style.

HRC seems to be working the “super delegate” track and working to ensure the primaries of Michigan and Florida count (nevermind that they were agreed upon not to be counted prior to….). Rumors that I’ve read mention scenarios where HRC pulls this off, wins the nomination then Obama splits and runs 3^rd party.

This could be of great benefit to McCain. A slit (of compound fracture if you will) of the Dems could leave neither HRC or Obama with enough supporters to take McCain. (Then in a dream scenario Ralph Nader would also run 3^rd party for the Greens).

Yes, I know, a truly unlikely scenario…but one can always dream.

An excellent article on Obama by Ken Blackwell.  

“Because at a time when so many people are struggling to keep up with soaring costs and a sluggish economy, we know that the status quo in Washington just won’t do, not this time, not this year.”

The status quo…Obama is currently a Senator. Would that not effectively place him squarely in his “status quo”? And further more, what accomplishments does he have? What has he done to help “soaring costs” and a “sluggish economy”. All I heard from him was more government intrusion and punishment for big businesses.

“We can’t keep playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and somehow expect a different result, because it’s a game that ordinary Americans are losing.  We are going to put this game to an end. It’s a game where lobbyists write check after check and Exxon turns record profits, while you pay the price at the pump and our planet is put at risk.  That’s what happens when lobbyists set the agenda, and that’s why they won’t drown out your voices anymore when I am president of the United States of America.”

Does anyone truly believe that Obama or the Democrats are less likely to be influenced by special interest groups? No environmental activists lobby? No MoveOn.org?

Why should we punish the oil company for making record profits. That’s what a for profit publicly traded company is trying to do. As long as we continue to absorb the cost of oil/gas and use it at the same rate it will be hard to return to the “old prices”.

“That’s what happens when we use 9/11 to scare up votes instead of bringing together the people around a common purpose.  And that’s why we need to do more than end the war; we need to end the mindset that got us into war.”

Using 9/11 to scare up votes…I’ll use his words “It’s the past versus future”. Anyone who has been truly paying attention these past few years realizes that 9/11 loomed as a scary reality. It was not used as an excuse to scare up votes. Voters used it as an excuse to be to scared to vote for someone who does not understand it’s significance.

“It’s the past versus future.  It’s about whether we’re looking backwards or whether we’re marching forward.  And when I’m the Democratic nominee for president, that will be the choice we have in November.”

His “hope” and future are a pre-9/11 attitude. It’s an ignore my inexperience and “trust me” attitude. It’s an ignore my opponents accomplishments attitude.

“Senator McCain said the other day that we might be mired for 100 years in Iraq, 100 years, which is reason enough not to give him four years in the White House.”

Where do I start on this one? Granted, this was a silly remark for McCain during a campaign. You had to have known this would get picked up on by the Democrats. Obama is stretching the truth on this one. McCain has no intention of keeping the troops there one minute longer than necessary. However, he won’t bring them home until the job (that Obama doesn’t believe in) is done.

“It’s the dream of the father who goes to work before dawn and lies awake at night wondering how he’s going to pay the bills.  He needs us to restore fairness to our economy by putting tax cuts into the pockets of working people, and seniors, and struggling homeowners.”

How would tax cuts for the lower income brackets help the economy for than those for the upper income brackets? Who are more likely to create jobs, higher earners or lower income workers? What is more likely to provide a spring to the economy? A high wage earner will have more discretionary income to spend, thus boosting the economy.

“That is our calling in this campaign.  That’s our calling, to reaffirm that fundamental belief:  I am my brother’s keeper.  I am my sister’s keeper.  That belief that makes us one people and one nation.”

Read: Government can take care of you better than you can take care of yourself. A slap in the face to the hard working American. Why have do it yourself attitude, when you can have a have Obama do it for you attitude…?

My wife, son, and I spent a long weekend in a cabin on Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas. We drove up from Fort Worth to celebrate our son’s first birthday with friends and family. I had not been up on Petit Jean Mountain since 2000 or 2001, it was nice to visit again. Other than the “stressors” of prepping for 25 guests coming to a one-year old’s birthday party, the weekend was a relaxing getaway. There was, of course, all the driving…but it was off set by the scenery on the mountain. I also unwound by jogging around the Winthrop Rockefeller Center ranch, while listening to George Strait on my IPOD.

I am glad we moved away from Connecticut and back to Texas so we can enjoy these types of activities with our families. Traveling from New England to Arkansas required weeks of planning (without a child). Traveling with a child from Texas to Arkansas, requires a good bit of planning, but nothing in comparison to the alternative.

I’ve been buried in my job and have not blogged in “forever”. I’ll have to jump back “on the band wagon” and start posting my unsolicited opinions on whatever comes to mind.