Will Romney Learn From McCain Epic Failure VP Choice

As a result of spring cleaning I found an old soapbox in the garage, I'm wondering if it works . . . 

The other night I watched HBO's Game Change. It's a documentary about the McCain selection of Sarah Palin, and how she fared during the campaign. Steve Schmidt, McCain’s senior political adviser, and other top campaign operatives were primary sources for the film and they have attested to it's accuracy.


That Palin comes off as a nitwit is no surprise. What shocked me is that the Republican party did nothing. My concern - what is the responsibility of "The Parties" (Republican AND Democratic) to find the best possible potential leaders? And we citizens - we must take responsibility. When we vote in panderers, idiots, narcissists, and incompetence to leadership we get exactly what we deserve.


Illinois, my home state, has an uncanny ability to elect real winners into office. We are the only state in the nation to have two former governors, Democrat Rod Blagojevich and Republican George Ryan, are both serving time in "Club Fed" for crimes they committed while in elected office.  Perhaps the Illinois electorate should have our right to vote taken away. Clearly we are not smart enough to use it appropriately.


Today MSNBC ran a story about Governor Romney and as he begins the process of vetting a VP to run with him that the ghost (perhaps poltergeist) of Palin looms over the process. Perhaps the GOP learned from the McCain failed experiment. Hopefully the GOP gained an understanding of the need to give to Americans the post possible choice as someone to vote for. That pandering and serving a select group will not bring success for the nation.  


As former White House chief of staff John Sununu (and former governor of NH) said "In the end, there is only one imperative: don't blow it."


Indeed. America needs competent leadership. 

Life Is A Roller-coaster

This is one of those weeks that exemplifies life. Events and activities that are filled with trepidation and fun. Some tremendous good news, some sorrowful news, and some news that makes you appreciate all that you have and hold dear. All happening in the wrap speed of what we consider normal today; a speed that can cause a range of emotions just like a roller-coaster. Exhilaration one moment, gut wrenching angst the next.

Monday started off with a business trip to Vegas. Now you have to understand . . . I LOVE Vegas. It's not that I'm a gambler. I'm not. It's not that I spend big bucks and go to the $175 a seat Cirque shows. I don't. What I love about Vegas is the pulse. There is always something going on. Something to look at. Something to do. It is Disney World for adults. All the fun. None of the whining.  By the way, one of the best places to go to in Vegas is Red Rock Canyon - Nevada's first National Conservation Area.

I had two shows to cover. Tuesday morning I went to the first one - it's part of an industry that often makes me reluctant to shake hands with some of the people I meet. They have sleazy business ethics. 1/2 of what they are saying is false, the other half is a lie. I guess it was fitting that the show was held in the Mirage resort. There are some great companies to do business with. But like an oasis in a dessert, they are few and far between to find. Luckily I had to spend only a few hours at this show.

Tuesday I woke up to two text messages; one from my brother saying he had news to share. The other from my wife - our young nephew had a seizure that caused him for a short time to lose speech. By the time I called my wife she said he didn't have to stay overnight in the hospital and seemed fine. Her sister, an excellent doctor, was scheduling tests, etc. to find out what is going on. We finished the call by my sharing that my brother had sent a text too. I'd let her know what is going on with him.

About an hour later my brother sent another text - he had proposed to his long-term (6 years) girlfriend and she accepted! I sent a heartfelt congratulatory text back and told him we'd connect when I returned to Chicago. A few moments later I saw this shirt in a local store and laughed.



Wednesday morning my wife called. Our nephew had another seizure. He was being admitted to the hospital and hooked up to monitors so the doctors can get a handle on what's going on.

And she had more news. My mom had called. My uncle had just been diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) which is a stage 4 aggressive primary brain cancer.  With chemotherapy and radiation the prognosis is 12 - 15 months.

Wednesday also was the start of the other show I went to Vegas for . . . the Creative Painting annual show at the Tropicana Hotel.  It was 11 years since the last decorative painting show I attended. I wondered who would remember me (a lot!), who I would remember (more!), and how the business changed (tremendously!). It was great to see artists (Doxie Keller, Judy Diephouse, Lynne Deptula, Prudy Vannier, Debby Forshey, Donna Dewberry, Jillybean & Mary Owens) and companies, (All American Crafts, DecoArt, MartinF/ Weber) I came to know well in the late 80's and 90's. It was good to see new companies and artists such as Stampendous (love their new take on stamps and painting) and really enjoyed taking a photo of Joyce Ortner as she painted a 8' x 5' canvas.  It was also fun to take a video of Janice Miller as she gold leafed a fingernail. I bought my 16 year old daughter some gold leaf so she can do her nails.


Thursday came with the sobering thought that dear friends were taking their teen son to the hospital to have some substantial surgery that while taking care of a significant health issue, it will also alter his life. The good news came late in the afternoon that they surgery was a success and their son is recovering nicely.

So I flew home Thursday evening and got in the door about 11. It felt so good to give my wife a hug and kiss. She asked if I had a good time. I immediately responded with "no". My quick response surprised both of us. Not even the fun and energy of Vegas could overcome the emotions brought on by the roller-coaster of life.

Where Did 19 Years Go?

Last night we drove up to visit our "old neighbors".  About 19 years ago we moved in across the street from Kathy & Joe.  At the time they had 2 boys - roughly 3rd & 5th grade. Our kids were still figments of  imagination.

Watching Joe & Kathy raise their boys was the best parenting instruction Gail and I could have asked for. We learned patience, perseverance, the value of sticking to your guns, and how a well timed glass of wine or beer (for the parent!) is an appropriate remedy.

Lucky for us Joe is a paramedic. More than a few times we called Joe over to "take a look at this" in regards for a bloody finger (no stitches), a banged head (stitches), etc.  Kathy was "911 nextdoor" for Gail to call on with the anxiety of being a new mom.  Our kids grew up calling their boys "NeeNee" and "Big Jon" - both of them are 6' plus!

So many years ago we shared countless evenings sitting over bonfires, sharing stories, and developing a friendship that is deep and meaningful.  Not to say the years have been paved with rainbows and stress free living. Both families have survived some big stresses -  like most families do. It gave me pause last night when we realized that NeeNee is the same age as I was when we moved in. Literally - where did the time go?!

Today, our kids are now 15 & 17, their "boys" are 28 & 30.  Both are married, NeeNee to his high-school sweetheart, and Big Jon to a fine young lady from Idaho, and they both are proud parents! That makes Joe & Kathy loving grandparents of two boys, and both daughter-in-laws are expecting again.  NeeNee will welcome another son into their lives, and Big Jon will bring - for the first time in a generation - a new baby girl to the family.  2012 is looking to be a great year!

Last  night was a blessing in many ways. 

Hearing our kids call out "NeeNee" and "Big Jon".

We shared laughs, updates on our lives, got to know Big Jon's wife a little better, and recounted old stories.

Joe gave our son some great insight into a possible college / career path.

We'll survive these teenage years. I just hope the end result is what Joe & Kathy have. What an evening!

But I didn't inhale . . .

Former President Clinton almost told the truth (IMHO) when running for election. He claimed to have smoked, but NOT inhale pot. Across the country you could hear snickering. This came to mind last night when an "old friend" came over last night for a class of wine and some visiting. (BTW, she brought over 7 Deadly Zins wine which was very good! I digress . . . she shared a story in which she had breakfast with a friend of hers. They both have kids that are Seniors in high school. The other mother shared how proud she was of her child because he was no longer smoking pot. My friend had a momentary internal conflict. Does she nod her head yes while knowing that the son is still smoking pot, or does she tell her friend.

In the end, as Hillary Clinton's conveyed in her book, "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons children Teach Us" we parents need to help each other to raise good children to grow into respectable adults. So my friend was honest and shared what was going on. The mother bought a drug test from the local Walgreens and asked her son to do the test. He refused. He whined. He accused his mother of not trusting him. All the while steadfastly refusing to do the drug test. Then the boy went to school and accused the daughter of my friend of being a nark for telling on him. The reality is the daughter had no idea her mother knew; and certainly had no idea what her mother was going to say.

All this brings to mind a couple of thoughts . . .

One, my friend did the absolute right thing. As one parent to another, friend to friend. Her goal was to be supportive and honest with her friend, to help her be an aware mother of what is really up with her child. We all need friends like that. We would "all want to know" if it was our child. We may not like it - but we'd want to know.

Two, the boy is a mess. Not because he's a pothead. He's a mess because he's a liar. He lies to his parents  about who he is and what he's doing. He's not trustworthy. As a parent what would be more hurtful than to know that your child is an untrustworthy liar?

Third, the boy is a jerk. He is making the life of another student miserable by accusing her of doing something she didn't do. And rather than take personal responsibility for the fact that he really is a pot-head he's telling everyone that my friends daughter is a jerk.

I guess there would be something more hurtful than knowing that a child is an untrustworthy liar. It would be to have a child that is an irresponsible untrustworthy liar. What a mess. Hopefully he'll grow up - soon.

Oh, and another thing . . .

The other night, while enjoying dinner, my wife and I were talking about her day at work and what we were going to do that evening. Our 16 year old made a HUGE mistake and walked into the kitchen - which prompted my wife to say "Oh, and another thing (while turning to face our son) YOUR CAR IS A PIGSTY! Then her eyes narrowed and to emphasize her point she repeated "PIGSTY, it's disgusting". Our son has learned a great deal from me in how to stand up to his mother when she is yelling. He kept his mouth shut, bowed his head slightly and concentrated on staring through the floor to China.

Evidently my wife was right. Later that night our son filled one trash bag and brought in two baskets of "stuff" consisting of a sleeping bag and pillow (from a retreat he went to in early August), a broken umbrella, four jackets and, well the list goes on . . .

While my wife was busy playing Mahjong with her girlfriends I sneaked out to my car with a bottle of Windex and paper towels. Just to make sure it would pass any surprise inspection.