Ames Debate Thoughts

I found the debate tonight very interesting. First and foremost: Ron Paul is a crackpot. With that said, I can easily rule out five of the candidates on the stage in Iowa. I'll refrain from naming those eliminations this early in the campaign, because many of them are likely to flop their flip before primary day.

What I will say is, I now wish more than ever that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was running; I can't wait for Rick Perry to get into the thick of it; I'm still hopeful that Rudy Giuliani will enter the race.

Who won tonight? I think most will remember this as the day that Rick Perry threw his hat into the ring.

Any thoughts to add?

I Said, NO Soliciting!

Twice today, people have come to my door peddling something that I would go out and get on my own if I really wanted it. Both times, when I told the unwanted solicitors trespassing on my property (it is posted PRIVATE PROPERTY, NO SOLICITING, NO TRESPASSING at the entrance to our subdivision) that I wasn't interested, they acted surprised, as if I must not understand what wonderful things they had to offer. One had the gall to ask me why, and the second suggested I stop taking drugs when I informed him that it was posted NO SOLICITING in the neighborhood.

This is more annoying than the phone call from the RNC that I mentioned in my earlier post, because these people clearly know where we live and could transact any sort of trouble if they had the desire to get revenge for being rejected. Not to mention that they interrupt dinner and other family activities and get our dogs excited and barking when they ring the doorbell.

Why must these people refuse to take no for an answer? Why must they become rude and insulting when told that they are trespassing on private property and are unwelcome?

Is it just me? Or do others find these people to be a nuisance? Or is this just one more product of the decline of society?

Political Hang Up

Just what makes people -- even my own political party -- think it's okay to call me in the middle of the work day and start rattling their spiel with no regard for what I might be busy doing? Not even a, "Do you have a moment?" to make sure they aren't catching me in the middle of something. Maybe that's why they've been calling me twice a day every day with their number marked RESTRICTED. They must have known that eventually I would get tired of rejecting the RESTRICTED call and wondering who it was that I would actually answer it.

Wonder if they knew I would hang up on them, too.

I understand the importance of Cut, Cap & Balance. I realize that Congress and the Obama Administration have failed us financially (for one). You would have to live under a rock not to know (in fact, I think even Patrick Star understands). Please don't call me and insult my intelligence with your scripted jargon. And if you, dear GOP, need to call someone, shouldn't you be calling the Democrats or Independents who are still disillusioned with Washington? Make your phone calls count and stop preaching to the choir!