The Liquor Talking

It’s Thursday, January 12, 2012 and I was only KIDDING about the CD!

I guess it should come as no surprise that I had about a dozen responses to yesterday’s joke about me producing a CD of Beethoven on the juice harp. You people are weird. While I can appreciate that sales could possibly soar into the teens, I really can’t play the thing well enough for the noise to be distinguished as “music.”

Even if I added some beagle accompaniment, I doubt it’d be anything you’d want to listen to for more than a few nanoseconds.

But thanks for the encouragement all the same!

1. I don’t like it when a TV talking head makes me actually think about why I think the way I do.

   For the record, I don’t pay attention to this guy. I stumbled upon his video while researching to see if I like Ron Paul or not. I still haven’t decided yet.

   But the guy made me think. So bear with me please if I ramble a bit today.

   

   Are there really meaningful differences between the core values of republicans and democrats?

   More to the point, are our political values relevant in determining who we elect?

   Does it matter?

   In 2008, we (not the royal we) voted for hope and change. In 2010, we voted in enough republicans to Congress to stop it.

   I think we may be bipolar.

   Now we got a bunch of “republicans” running to unseat His Obamaness, but I gotta wonder…I mean really, really wonder if that’ll do the trick? It goes without saying that reelecting Obama will at best result in more of the same and who the hell wants that?

   But I’m looking at the republican contenders and find myself asking same question.

   Especially after today when they all seem to be ganging up on Romney over his gig at Bain Capital.

   Rick Perry even called him “vulture capitalist.”

   

   What the hell? Did these idiots all run off and join the occupy Wall Street group? Has he got Micheal Moore writing his campaign speeches now?

   Perry then went on to shove his other foot in mouth by claiming that as governor of Texas, he’s created “ a million jobs.”

   Now wait just a damn minute here!

   

   Yeah, I thought the doctrine was that the government (even state government) didn’t create jobs. Haven’t we (republicans) been raising 73.12 kinds of hell about over that stimulus crap? I thought (and still think) that it’s the private sector that creates jobs.

   Oh sure, the government can create government jobs. If that’s what he’s talking about then how is he a republican that’s proud of expanding government?

   See, this is the kind of thing I’m talking about when I talk about looking for inconsistencies. I don’t have a problem with politicians tailoring their message to the audience and it makes sense that the message in South Carolina would be noticeably different from the one in Maine. Bain Capitol did come in there, take over (as in purchased) a couple of unprofitable companies and shut them down.

   Sometimes they do this. Sometimes they fix the company and make it profitable. Sometimes, they fail and the outfit goes bust anyway. Sometimes it’s just not a good business decision to even try and they liquidate the thing and take what profits they can.

   Which I guess is “vulture capitalism.”

   So Perry alters his message, he and the other republicans who jumped on the Bain Capitol, vulture capitalism express. Alter it to where I wonder who the hell these guys are.

   So I’m wondering if come November, are we just gonna be trading one douchebag, career politician for another?

   But back to the question: Are there really meaningful differences between the core values of republicans and democrats?

   I need to believe that there is. I’m not at all comfortable with the notion that it’s all for naught, that the same failed policies will be perpetuated despite a change in presidents. The guy in the video seems to think it doesn’t matter and based on the behaviors of the current republican candidates, I gotta wonder.

   Have we, the proclaimed democrats and republicans, liberals and conservatives if you prefer, have we, by design, become so polarized so as to be herded like so many sheep?

   

   Most of the people voting in the New Hampshire primary listed themselves as “independent.” These are people who like and dislike various pieces from each party. That’s fine and all, but unless a candidate is running as an independent, the two party system gets ‘em anyway.

   I mean about half of them voted for Romney, but I gotta wonder why. I gotta wonder how many are of the “anyone but Obama” camp. Or, is this guy enough of a centrist to appeal to people with no party affiliation? Or, are they trollin’?

   

You’ll have to tune in to see!