"The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways. I to die and you to live. Which is better God only knows." Socrates
When the news came about his death emotions ran the gamut, shock, anger, guilt, and sadness. I took a job in Minnesota a few years ago and I was warned about Mike. Ornery SOB they all said. You'll have your hands full with that one they warned. With a hard gruff biker persona he let it be known that he wasn't about to take any crap from anyone, especially some outsider that blew into town expecting to change to his world. He was everything they promised and more, fortunately.
A funny thing happened over the course of that next year. There grew, I think, a mutual respect and when it became clear that my time with the company was coming to an end he stood beside me when it was obvious that no one else who would.
I always tell people when they are unsure about leaving a job because they "will miss the people" that in a couple months you probably won't hear from any of your co-workers but in this case I did. He called and stopped by over the next few months just to be sure we were making out all right. We had dinner the night before we left town but even after we moved away we still managed to keep in touch. Most of the time it was just to say to hello or talk about the weather.
He called a couple weeks ago to let me know he bought a new bike and had started going to the VA. I called to see how he fared when the company laid off some staff and we spoke again last Saturday when he said he may get a wild hair and come down to see us. He didn't show. I just didn't know. There is a certain futility in trying to rationalize the irrational, to make sense of the senseless, to understand the ununderstandable. So we are left lamenting the loss of a friend that will be sorely missed, and wondering what if...
September 07, 2008
September 04, 2008
The Best of Sarah
Sarah Pallin "The Thrilla from Wassilla" (borrowed from Ace) delivered an amazing speech last night that as one Alaska commenter noted was "Like a moose going after a cabbage." She never wavered, her voice never cracked, her timing was precise and her message will resonate with the center and put fear in the hearts of the left.
As one sign on the convention floor put it "The hottest VP from the Coolest State."
Why is it that Sarah is being compared to Obama? It's simple because she is ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. And why does the Obama campaign keep referring to her as the mayor? Because to admit that she is a governor would point out the fact that the dems have once again anointed a candidate that shouldn't be within a hundred yard of the oval office. See how they match up here.
The wife wondered how long it would be before the press made fun of her hair. The answer to that would be... Six. Is it possible there is a scandle hiding under that doo?
September 03, 2008
September 01, 2008
Getting to know Sarah Palin
I talked to friends in Alaska last night and the feeling I get is Palin is generally well regarded in the state and along with some actual tears of joy that some mentioned, people are pulling for her to succeed. Alaska is a small place where people that make a name for themselves are referred to on a first name basis like neighbors, even if you don't know them personally. That said it is often hard to picture someone you know doing something that seems incredible but Alaska is a place where doing the incredible is something of a way of life. Growing up in that environment gives Palin an edge that outsiders really can't grasp and may underestimate.
In a state where the motto is "We don't care how they do it outside", outside meaning the lower 48 states, the outside press is digging for anything newsworthy about the candidate. Some of the accusations would seem absurd to Alaskans. One article I read this morning was amazed that no one from the McCain camp went to the office of the local paper "The Frontiersman" to check articles written about the candidate, failing to mention that "The Frontiersman" is not exactly the NY Times of the North Country. Until recently it has been a twice weekly, small town paper, published in Palmer while the "Anchorage Daily News" has to be considered the paper of record for south central Alaska.
One indication that the McCain choice has been so effective is the apparent tightening of the sphincters of the loony left. The resulting lack of oxygen has made them spew crazy and vile accusations about Palin and her family. They are attacking a kid that is 16 years old and a downs syndrome baby. How do you justify that? "She brought it up they are fair game" B as in B... and S as in S....! The supposed swiftboating of Kerry and the political tactics of Rove which they are not shy about lambasting pale in comparison to this. They truly are unhinged and I hope that these stories get some air time outside of the blog-o-sphere so the rest of the world can see who Barry is hangin with.
However, the question of experience is one that will become center stage over the next few weeks. Much of the electorate doesn't really take actual experience into account, but you do have to exude leadership (or "hope" if your audience is particularly gullible). If she can remain gaff free and come across as serious and knowledgeable she will succeed. How does the experience question really stack up between Palin and Obama? See chart here.
On the lighter side.
Sarah Palin’s finishing move in the VP debate will be pulling Biden’s still beating heart from his chest & taking a bite.
Sarah Palin will pry your Klondike bar from your cold dead fingers.
Sarah Palin doesn’t need a gun to hunt. She has been known to throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.
Sarah Palin was kicked off Survivor for killing a man and eating his entrails.
Sarah Palin makes Andrew Sullivan regret some key life choices.
Sarah Palin wears glasses lest her uncontrollable optic blasts slaughter everyone.
Sarah Palin’s son is going to Iraq after the Surge, because a Palin during the Surge would have been unfair.
Sarah Palin eats bald eagle for lunch because they taste better than spotted owl.
Sarah Palin aways brings a knife to a gun fight and WINS!
If something like this has shown up for Barry I'm not aware of it. Even the late night talk shows seem at a loss to put a human face on him. Since parody is the highest form of flattery certainly there is something in his persona that would lead to some lighthearted ribbing or is it too much like making fun of the short bus?
In a state where the motto is "We don't care how they do it outside", outside meaning the lower 48 states, the outside press is digging for anything newsworthy about the candidate. Some of the accusations would seem absurd to Alaskans. One article I read this morning was amazed that no one from the McCain camp went to the office of the local paper "The Frontiersman" to check articles written about the candidate, failing to mention that "The Frontiersman" is not exactly the NY Times of the North Country. Until recently it has been a twice weekly, small town paper, published in Palmer while the "Anchorage Daily News" has to be considered the paper of record for south central Alaska.
One indication that the McCain choice has been so effective is the apparent tightening of the sphincters of the loony left. The resulting lack of oxygen has made them spew crazy and vile accusations about Palin and her family. They are attacking a kid that is 16 years old and a downs syndrome baby. How do you justify that? "She brought it up they are fair game" B as in B... and S as in S....! The supposed swiftboating of Kerry and the political tactics of Rove which they are not shy about lambasting pale in comparison to this. They truly are unhinged and I hope that these stories get some air time outside of the blog-o-sphere so the rest of the world can see who Barry is hangin with.
However, the question of experience is one that will become center stage over the next few weeks. Much of the electorate doesn't really take actual experience into account, but you do have to exude leadership (or "hope" if your audience is particularly gullible). If she can remain gaff free and come across as serious and knowledgeable she will succeed. How does the experience question really stack up between Palin and Obama? See chart here.
On the lighter side.
Sarah Palin’s finishing move in the VP debate will be pulling Biden’s still beating heart from his chest & taking a bite.
Sarah Palin will pry your Klondike bar from your cold dead fingers.
Sarah Palin doesn’t need a gun to hunt. She has been known to throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.
Sarah Palin was kicked off Survivor for killing a man and eating his entrails.
Sarah Palin makes Andrew Sullivan regret some key life choices.
Sarah Palin wears glasses lest her uncontrollable optic blasts slaughter everyone.
Sarah Palin’s son is going to Iraq after the Surge, because a Palin during the Surge would have been unfair.
Salmon Submissions:
Sarah Palin eats bald eagle for lunch because they taste better than spotted owl.
Sarah Palin aways brings a knife to a gun fight and WINS!
If something like this has shown up for Barry I'm not aware of it. Even the late night talk shows seem at a loss to put a human face on him. Since parody is the highest form of flattery certainly there is something in his persona that would lead to some lighthearted ribbing or is it too much like making fun of the short bus?
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