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Casual Sundays with Mr Curry
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I've been accused of only listening or reading people who think like me, but it's not true. At least once a week, I gird my loins and venture out to see what the other side thinks, writes and says. Besides which, I live in Minneapolis and can't have a simple conversation with anyone in my neighborhood without hearing what the other side thinks. They've got it splashed all over their bumpers, too.
So, every few days, I put on my mental hazmat suit and go diving. Why the hazmat suit? Have you read any of these people? Not just the www.Huffingtonpost.com or the www.Dailykos.com, but the comment threads at places like www.Townhall.com or www.shotinthedark.info? It's scary.
Anyway, this morning I was at both www.powerlineblog.com and www.disgrasian.blogspot.com. Their differing takes on the RNC convention is illuminating.
I prefer the company of conservatives because they are rational, logical people capable of following a thought without being distracted by bells, whistles and pretty colors. |
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Let me get this straight...
David Duchovney puts out a press release begging for his family's privacy and now he's the poster boy for sexual addiction.
Okay, first of all, who puts out a press release asking for privacy?
Second of all, sexual addiction?
"Hi, I'm Tea Leoni. I'm a gorgeous movie star and I'm married to David Duchovney and he's addicted to sex."
Could we be any more jealous of her?
Yeah, yeah, it isn't a laughing matter, sexual addiction can ruin your life, blah, blah, blah, it is too a laughing matter! Sexual addiction. Who's not addicted to sex? Does anyone know someone who ever had sex and went "Nope, that is not for me. "??? No you don't.
Third, do you think doubleD is sitting in rehab now going "Dam. I knew that press release wasn't the way to go."?
And finally, where can I get that poster?
I want that poster. |
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Now McCain is speaking.
I think perhaps one of the things I've always had a problem with regarding John McCain is his inability to hold a grudge. I hold a pretty mean grudge myself and it strikes me as a bit weird when someone else doesn't.
I know I'm in the wrong here.
Not holding a grudge is actually a strength, not a weakness. Grudges are far more prevalent among women than men, I believe. Sometimes I forget that that's one of the things I particularly like about men.
He's no Sarah Palin on the speech but when he loosens up he's pretty darn good.
Another thing I like about McCain is his ability to admit when he's wrong. For instance, on the whole comprehensive immigration reform debacle; he was for amnesty. The entire country shouted him down. He probably still wants to do it, but he won't because he knows that's not what we want. In other words, when everyone in the room tells him he's drunk, he sits down.
On the other hand he also has the strength of his convictions when he's sure of himself. As Louis L'Amour liked to say "you can't stop a man who knows he's right and keeps on comin'."
Well, that's interesting. Let's compare;
"I have been an imperfect servant to my country, but always a servant."
and ;
"We are the people we've been waiting for!"
Which one is the scary megalomaniac?
Dull speech but really good finish. Zack would've loved the end where he said nothing is inevitable in America where we don't run from history, we make history. Zack said almost the same thing to me not too long ago.
Well, the regular season is over. Let the post season play begin. |
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I think Cindy McCain is absolutely wonderful. I had known a little bit about her before this convention and I thought it was a mistake that John wasn't using her more in this campaign. I did know she has little use for the political spotlight and never lived in Washington with John. She made him commute. My kinda woman.
Tonight she's talking a little bit about her travels to all the world's hot spots on humanitarian missions. They showed a short film about her travels and the work she's done for the children of the world. Anyone who insists on believing that pro-lifers only care about babies who haven't been born yet needs to be reminded of Cindy McCain. The film ignored the fact that she took over her Dad's Budweiser distributorship and turned it into one of the largest, most successful in the country. Jeez, Cindy has more foreign policy and executive experience than anyone on either ticket. I'd feel pretty good if John named her as one of his economic advisors.
We could wind up with two women in the White House who are both military Moms, smart, tough women who know how to get things done, one of whom builds and races cars and the other one hunts moose. And they're both drop dead gorgeous.
In other words, perfectly normal conservative women.
We should be so lucky. |
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Sarah Palin started out touting McCain's story, career and character.
She has identified herself as a military mom who wants John McCain to be her son's commander in chief.
She's the mom of a special needs baby.
She's every mom.
She's America.
Her kids are cute as heck. Her hubbie's hot but needs a better haircut. He'd look good bald.
She's a very good, natural speaker. Hard to believe that she's talking to an arena full of people and cameras to the entire country. She's very comfortable and natural.
She's a hockey mom. She can deliver a punch line.
Hoo boy. Now she's talking about being the mayor of a small town. She can deliver a punch to the groin, too.
I have a feeling that when she hunts moose she never shoots to wound.
More 'experienced' politicians love to talk about future energy technologies. This woman has actually done something about it.
She is the embodiment of both 'hope' and 'change'.
She's actually describing how she's going to create jobs and energy.
Now she's making fun of the greek columns. Now she's making fun of Obama's over the top rhetoric.
Left hook. Right jab. Round house. Lady Thatcher applauds.
She's pointing out that Obama is all canvas and no keel while McCain is a battleship.
Now she's dissing Harry Reid. Good. About time someone did.
She's funny. She's relentless. Her aim is perfect.
Grand slam.
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Barack Obama complained that none of the speakers at the convention Tuesday night addressed the economy.
Good one, Barack. That's like complaining that the Twins didn't score any runs in the first half of the inning.
BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE FIELD.
Last night wasn't about individual issues, it was about John McCain, the man and his history.
Some talking head last night was commenting on the "Country First" and other mottoes all over the arena. This idiot was wondering if those signs had been placed deliberately so that they would always be on camera. I really wanted whoever he was talking to say "No. We're way too stupid to know where the cameras are, or how to place what we want the public to see in such a way that the message will wind up on tv."
Tonight the first speaker I saw was Meg Whitman, talking about the economy. That's gonna make Senator Obama happy. Of course, what does this Whitman know? She's only a girl. And a blond at that. Yeah, she was the CEO of a cute little company called e-bay. That was kind of successful. Maybe this Whitman chick actually knows a thing or two about how money and markets work.
Now there's another girl talking. Carly Fiorina was only the CEO of Hewlett Packard.
Dang. These Republican women rock.
Now there's a figment of my imagination on the podium. I mean, it's a black man speaking at the Republican convention, so he can't possibly really exist, right?
Thank goodness Michael Steele actually exists!
A clean, articulate black man who actually talks in specifics!
Drill baby, drill! And drill now!
Now Mitt Romney is on. I like Mitt. He's a guy who has accomplished a lot and it seems as though he has been succussful at everything he's tried. I know a lot of conservatives don't trust him because he's late to the party, but I give him the benefit of the doubt. He just pointed out how change in Washington means turning from liberal to conservative. Just like him. He's pretty good.
He's very good.
Ooh! Gratuitous slap at Al Gore! I love it!
Mitt is laying out the choice; Hope and Change vs. Strength and Prosperity.
"Tsk!" said the Democrat "We're for strength and prosperity too. And what about those 'country first' signs. You guys are trying to make it seem like we don't put country first. How dare you question our patriotism?"
"This from the guys who claim that half the country is against clean air and water and that we only care about kids before they're born?? Shut up or we won't tell Sarah you're a traitor, we'll tell her you're a moose."
Am I the only one who noticed last night that Cindy McCain has more foreign policy experience than all of the nominees put together?
Now David Gergen is making the same mistake all the Democrats are making; it ain't conservatism that has failed in Washington, it's Republicans appeasing liberalism that has failed. As Romney said, we have to bring back conservatism!
Now some media ass hat is pretending that the press hasn't turned on McCain. I suppose this jerk would actually say that McCain has gotten more fawning press than Obama.
Mitt just made the point that Obama hasn't got the bona fides to run a lemonade stand much less the U.S. of A.
I'm paraphrasing, but that's pretty much what he said.
Now Mike Huckabee is on. "I'm not a Republican because I grew up rich. I'm a Republican because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life poor, waiting for the government to rescue me!" might be the quote of the night.
Nope. He just said Sarah Palin got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla than Joe Biden got running for president of the united states! HAHAHAHA!
Now he's talking about how McCain endured torture to avoid saying the things John Kerry says for free.
Woooo. The governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle, is now talking and she just handed Obama/Biden their own nuts! She pointed out that mayors (which both she and Sarah were) and governors, (which both she and Sarah are) are the equivalent of CEOs, experience of which Obama/Biden have none. Pow. This lady is very, very good.
Now it's Rudy's turn.
The things he's pointing out about Obama would be really really mean except that they are all known facts. He's telling Obama's story as farce. It's great! The crowd is chanting "Zero" again. Now Rudy's using Joe Biden's words against Obama. And now Rudy's using Hillary's words against Obama.
Okay, now I've seen speaches by Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Guiliani and all I keep thinking is "how in the world did McCain beat these guys??"
"Change" is not a position and "Hope" is not a strategy. That's good.
Cindy McCain's hair is down tonight and she looks spectacular.
Now Rudy is talking about the war on terror and saying all the things America needs to remember. There are still people out there who want to kill Americans and destroy our country and we need to defeat them.
Oh my goodness. Straight talk, indeed! I can hardly wait to see how Obama counters all this. I'm sure he'll pout. He always pouts when he thinks people aren't being "fair". He pouts like a second grader.
Dang, Rudy is just beating the living crap out of this poor little community organizer. It's like watching Katrina take out New Orleans all over again.
Now he's off of Obama's dead carcass and talking up our Sarah. No, he's gone back to kick the body some more.
Oh, I want this on dvd!
Seriously, how did McCain beat these guys? He'd better bring his A game tomorrow night. |
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I watched Obama make his acceptance speech last week. I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I was underwhelmed. He may as well have been the Olympic closing ceremonies. What I heard from Bill Clinton the night before was much, much better, I thought.
I guess I'm a minority of one, but Obama didn't move me. His speaking style doesn't thrill me. It could've been any politician listing a bunch of unlikely promises during any campaign of my adult life.
Yawn.
Last night I caught Fred Thompson's speech at the RNC convention.
Jolie Pitt!
That, kids, is the difference between an amateur and a professional. |
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I've heard and read an awful lot on the choice of Sarah Palin for McCain's vice president and it surprises me how few of the pundits get it.
They seem to think that the choice of a woman was designed to peel off some of Hillary's supporters and that it won't work.
I think the number of Hillary's supporters who will be willing to dump their liberalism in favor of female solidarity is probably so small as to be statistically insignificant.
But that's not the constituency McCain needs.
Bush won twice without the feminist bloc.
McCain needs the conservatives. No Republican can win without them.
Palin has got that constituency jazzed beyond belief! That's me. That's all the conservatives I know. That's how McCain raised ten million over the weekend.
As for her daughter's unfortunate pregnancy? So what? There but for the grace of God go I. I can't tell you how many women my age are in that same boat. Two of my sisters in law are there right now and I'm proud to say that everyone of my nieces and nephews not only chose but embraced life, with open arms!
"Punished with a baby"? Babies are good things!
Those who are pro-abortion never seem to get the fact that abortion "fixes" an unplanned pregnancy like committing a hit and run "fixes" a traffic accident.
Except that you can have a traffic accident that doesn't leave anyone dead.
All I felt upon hearing the news of Sarah Palin's imminent grandmotherhood was the same fleeting sympathy I feel for anyone in that situation. Yes, it's less than perfect but so is all of life.
What does it say about Governor Palin's political abilities? Nothing.
What does it say about her family values? That she loves and supports her daughter.
What does it say about her pro-life stand? That she means it in practice, not just in theory.
What does it say about John McCain that he chose Governor Palin even though he was aware of the state of affairs? That he knows a worthwhile person when he finds her and that he'll stand by her even when the going gets tough.
One of my biggest beefs with McCain has been his seeming inability to know his political friends from his enemies. How many times did he refer to both John Kerry and Hillary Clinton as his good friends? At a cocktail party, yes, but on Capitol Hill? Wake up, John!
I've been very luke warm on McCain, but the choice of Sarah Palin under all of her circumstances tells me that John McCain is a leader I can support. |
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The Fair is over and I just dropped Josie off at school, so I guess it's official; summer's over.
Yesterday we had the first real humidity of the summer. I was working in the morning and the piece I painted went quicker than I expected it to, so when Katie called to say they were all biking over to Calhoun to jump off the dock and eat ice cream, did Josie and I want to join them? I said yes and rinsed out my brush. It was hot, hazy and humid and the sun people were out in throngs.
That's one of the things I love about living here; we get so little really beautiful weather that when it is nice, every day is like labor day. The lakes were crowded with walkers, runner, bikers, swimmers, sailors and wind surfers. I didn't notice if there was a band at the bandstand at Lake Harriet, but there were an awful lot of picnickers. Over at Calhoun the beaches were all crowded, the bike paths were packed and at the Tin Fish the line for food was long. We only wanted ice cream and smoothies. That line is never as long as the lunch line. Next door, the canoes and kayaks were being rented by the dozen.
Out on the dock, it was windy and the water has remained really cold all summer so the kids didn't swim as much as they usually do. It was really fun watching the wind surfers. They were flying around at about sixty miles an hour. The experienced ones would come flying right at the dock and then turn on a dime about ten yards out and flip their sails and go flying back out to sea. I love it. I like having the lakes to myself now that everyone is back at work and in school but I also love it when it feels like a tourist attraction. I love the fact that I live right here and can walk or bike to such places.
When we were little and lived right behind the bandstand, all our folk's friends were suburbanites. We hung out with their kids at the pool and they were always a little shocked that we actually lived in the city. I don't know what kind of a slum or high rise they imagined we inhabited but I remember one summer running into some of them at the picnic ground by Lake Harriet. They were surprised to see us and stunned to be told that we lived right there; right behind those trees. Their weekend trip to the lake was where we played every day. We, the unfortunate city kids.
I love Minneapolis, I always have and I always will.
Next door in St. Paul, the RNC convention is on hold because of Hurricane Gustav. For some reason, Bush made the Hurricane miss New Orleans this time. I guess he likes black people now. Oh, wait, all the black folks are gone! That's why Bush spared the Big Easy this time!
The anarchists are here. They aren't anarchists, of course.
Anarchists organizing is a disqualifier.
These rotten souls call themselves 'anarchists' because to call themselves 'losers' doesn't sound cool, despite it's truth.
Why yes, I am being judgmental.
They smashed up a bit of downtown St.Paul, terrorized a school bus full of Boy Scouts and dropped sand bags off the highway overpasses when buses passed under. People have been killed in the past by things being dropped from an overpass, so anyone caught doing that should be prosecuted for attempted murder at best or terrorism at least.
Anarchists? If they were anarchists they wouldn't choose one convention over another, they'd protest both conventions and in fact, all organized government, every day. More arrests were made in St. Paul yesterday than during the entire Democrat Convention in Denver. Clearly, these little shits identify themselves with the left, even if the Dems don't acknowledge them. Equally clear is the fact that they don't know the definition of 'anarchy'.
If 'anarchy' is really what they want, they wouldn't do it in a state that allows us to carry concealed.
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Jay called from work last week to ask me what I had planned for dinner. When I told him I hadn't planned anything, he suggested Kwan's.
Kwan's is the Chinese restaurant down the street which is so good that Zack's entire class decided that if they were on death row they would want Kwan's for their last meal.
"That sounds great." I said. "Josie's going to karate so I have to pick her up at seven." It was only six so I knew we'd have time to eat first. I was already hungry but at the mention of Kwan's I got really hungry.
"You order whatever you want and I'll pick it up on my way home." Jay said. That was perfect. It takes about the same amount of time for Jay to get home as it takes for Kwan's to make up a take out bag.
So I called and ordered.
Time passed. No Jay, no Kwan's.
It got to be almost seven so I had to leave to get Josie from karate. I had hoped to eat first, but what the heck. I went and picked up the kids from karate, dropped Meg off at home and Josie and I pulled up the drive way, knowing there'd be some dinner waiting for us.
We got home.
No Jay, no Kwan's.
It was now 7:30.
This was a problem. I called Jay.
"Hey!" he said, like nothing was wrong. "I'm just coming around Lake Harriet now."
"Now? I ordered almost two hours ago! "
"You said you had to pick up Josie so I knew there was no hurry."
"IT'S GONNA BE COLD."
"It's not going to be cold. I'll be home in a few minutes."
Cold wasn't really the problem. She doesn't like it when you're late to pick up your dinner!
There are a lot of people in our neighborhood whom I could accidentally tick off without losing any sleep at all. The gal who runs Kwan's isn't one of them. If I'd known that Jay wasn't coming straight home, I would've picked up dinner myself, but it had gotten too late and I wasn't gong down there. He made this mess, let him face her!
Besides, she likes him. She thinks he looks like Bruce Willis.
Knowing that dinner was finally on it's way, and that I had at least ten minutes, I hopped in the shower. A minute late, Josie was pounding on the bathroom door.
"Mom!" she yelled. "The lady from Kwan's is on the phone!"
Oh God, she found me!
Panic in the shower stall.
I hopped out, grabbed a towel and took the phone.
"Hello?" I braced myself.
"Miz Pivec? Did you order dinner from us?" she asked.
"Yes! Yes we did and I'm really sorry, my husband said he would pick it up and I had no idea he was going to be so late! I just talked to him and he swears he's almost there. I'm sorry."
"Oh...Okay."
So I finished my shower. Seven minutes later Jay came in the back door.
"She called here." I said.
"I know." he said sheepishly. "She told me. I walked in the door and she said 'You're late! Call your wife and tell her you're sorry!' Here's dinner. Sorry I'm so late." He handed me the bag of food. Mmmmm! Kwan's!
It was cold.
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