Ted Cruz Crazy

So, I've made a point of ignoring the current presidential race here in my blog not only because of the lying, dishonesty, and ridiculous rhetoric but because I cringe every time I hear someone try to justify such dishonorable behavior.  The candidates do enough fake apologizing and excuse making; I truly don't need to hear that someone not only believes it but also spouts it back.

However, yesterday Ted Cruz did something that needs a statement.  Cruz and his campaign have presented the field with a myriad of underhanded tricks, acting surprised when people complain.  Or as Cruz said, "When you win campaigns, the people that lose tend to be unhappy about it."

I've heard people try to justify the actions, claiming that Cruz didn't personally approve of the behavior and really, we can't expect him to know everything about his campaign, right?

Wrong.  Dead wrong.  Cruz is trying to become the President of the United States.  If he can't keep track of what his campaign is doing, how is he supposed to run our entire country???

And Cruz knows exactly what's going on, because he hired a man known for dirty tricks, "stretching" the truth (as if it's rubber), and scorched earth - Jeff Roe.  You can read all about it in this New York Times article, but I'll sum it up for you.  Cruz hired someone who he knew uses underhanded tactics because winning for him is more important than how he wins.

What needs the statement, though, is Cruz is sacrificing one of his people to attempt to distance himself from the fallout of his own campaign's actions.  By firing one of his senior communications managers, Cruz can say that he's taking control of the situation, even though he knew what was happening.

Just when I thought the man couldn't sink lower in my opinion, he proves me wrong.

Zombies Wars!

Part IV, A NEW HOPE 

It is a period of civil war. 

It is the Election Season of '12.

Zombie lovers, striking from hidden ballots, have won their first victory 

against the evil Living Empire. 

During the election, zombie spies managed to infect dead politicians,

 getting them elected by a pathetically unaware general public.

Now pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, 

Earl Wood and Charles Beasley races home 

aboard two decked out RVs, 

custodians of the zombie political hope,

the only thing that can save their people 

and restore freedom to the dead….

This is a dark time for the rebellion.

Although the zombies won local elections in Florida and Alabama,

Living troops still pursue zombies through swamps and forests.

A third member of the Zombie Party rose up during the elections,

Charles Darwin, the scientist behind the Theory of Evolution.

He won more than 4,000 votes in a Georgia federal contest.

but Darwin lost to Representative Paul Broun.

Can the Zombie recover and get elected to the Federal government in 2014?

Or will the Living Empire crush the Zombie Rebellion forever?

For the real stories, read how Darwin did win votes in Georgia and how a couple of stiffs beat out the competition.

Lessons from the Election

Now that the entire election is finally over, I believe there are several lessons here for anyone willing/wanting to learn.

1. Be yourself.  Barack Obama remained Barack Obama throughout the campaign.  He did not suddenly change his beliefs or stances to fit someone else's ideal.  But Mitt Romney went from a moderate Republican able to work with the Democrats in his state to an ultra-conservative nut job, from pro-choice to anti-abortion, from compromising to unwilling to listen, from the Mitt Romney the Massachusetts governor to Mitt Romney the Tea Party-enticing, hate-spewing candidate.  Now, I have heard the argument that Romney was doing what he needed to do to get elected.  But consider this - some of the biggest gaffes Romney made on his campaign were at times he wasn't being himself. For example, when asked about NASCAR, instead of admitting that car racing just isn't his hobby of choice, Romney talked about knowing the owners.  More to the point, the strategy did not get him elected.


2. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  Both Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock both said things that weren't nice.  Neither man got elected.  Enough said.


3. Someone's private life is just that - private. In an win for the history books, Tammy Baldwin is now both the first woman elected to the Senate from Wisconsin and the first openly gay politician to win a seat in the Senate. This victory shows that the American public is finally growing up and letting a person's private life stay private.  Our next big hurdle will be not even mentioning whether or not a person is gay, but I think that will be a long time coming.


4. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.  I'm looking at you, Republican Party.  All of the ultra-extremists that you seem to love and cater to are not loved by the vast majority of the nation.  They are your weakest link, and you would be wise to rid yourself of the association before the next set of elections.


5. Campaigning should not take longer than the average pregnancy. 

Poetry: Election Dejection

The heat of summer

Fries the pavement,

Wilting flowers 

While sucking dry
Any ambient moisture.  

Election season rages on, despite this heat. 

Or the resultant drought. 

Or earthquakes in Iran. 

Or current economic troubles or triumphs.  

Election season rages on.

Lies pile onto lies,

Burying the Truth

Until the truth is no longer.

Mudslingers, naysayers, accusers, 

Political pawns willing to sacrifice their own morals

For a chance at 15 minutes of fame.

Or to be the next Sarah Palin.

Doesn't everyone want an obnoxiously colored bus with their name on it?

Local elections in July

Chase down independents,

Democrats,

Republicans,

Each one vying to get a vote

For their Favorite Cause,

Favorite Candidate,

Favorite Bill.

But no one stands willing to listen to others,

Engage in a real debate,

Reform opinions based on facts,

BE HONEST!!!

The lies of the elections

Pervade and Pervert 

That which they lie for.

The Preamble to the Constitution

Now tells its own lie.

We have no justice,

No domestic tranquility,

No common defense,

No general welfare,

For ourselves or our children.

The Bill of Rights

Now tells its own lie.

We only have rights

IF the government does not declare us terrorists.

One statement,

One word,

And we lose every right.

They say that Evil only prevails

If good people do nothing.

If good people look the other way.

What are you looking at now?

by Kathryn Patterson,