When Will the Election Finally Be Over?--Monday Musings and Mumblings

I thought the day Calvin and I went to the voting polls would be the end of all the political sniping. Color me naïve. Yup, I thought as we sat up, watching the results roll in, this unholy mess would finally be over. The winner wasn't a certainty when we went to bed and, once during the night, the light from Calvin's iPad woke me. He gave me the latest update. I groaned and rolled over.

The winner was announced and the loser called to congratulate. Niceties were exchanged. Painful, I'm sure for the one who lost.

But STILL the campaign ugliness continues. Some of the posts on Twitter from both sides are caustic. Facebook posts are just as bad. It's as if everyone is looking for a fight. My own son included and if I could get my hands on him, mid-forties or not, I'd fan his ass. Whether your side won or lost, accept it with grace...and move on.

Stop with the negativity and the "yeah, well what do you think of this?" We're better than that. We're Americans and we're better than that.

I realize my words will fall on deaf ears. See, I don't care who you voted for. As an American, your vote was your right. My thanks to you for exercising it.

Now, let it go. We're better than the protests and the mean tweets and the argumentative posts.

Our country has some real issues. Let's come together and support our Congressmen and women so they can do their best. Call. Email. Make your voice heard to them. Not to the rest of us who can't do anything about it and simply just want a break from it all.

Monday Musings and Mumblings

I rarely talk about politics. Not that I don't care or don't study the candidates because I do both. I just don't want to join in the shouting fray. I can make up my own mind, thank you very much. I don't need you to scream your choice at me or try to ram your views down my throat in an effort to change my mind. Frankly, I'm too hardheaded for that to ever happen.

In like manner, I respect you too much to influence you. That's NOT what this post is about. I'm a registered Independent because I refuse to be put into a box. I don't vote per party; I vote per person. Therein lies the problem.

Gather close.

I have a confession.

In many ways, I am an idealist.

I think anyone we vote into office in the Senate or House of Representative, the White House or the Governor's Mansion--even the School Board--should be a superior person.

• Not only in intellect, but...
• wisdom
• experience--the quality of it, not the politics of it
• courage to stand for what is right
• truthfulness
• devotion to voters, and 
• love for justice, not the influential.

Folks, we aren't getting it.

I look at those serving in offices across the land. Many are fat cats. Not just in weight, but in bribes the likes of which you and I will never know as we compare the prices of different brands of peanut butter and cereals.

The idealist in me, the American in me, wants to see the beauty of their character. But on both sides of the aisle, in the balcony, and within the aisle, itself, I'm seeing the failure of character. I watch the debates and ask myself...

IS THIS THE BEST OUR COUNTRY CAN OFFER US?

My thoughts are not only relegated to the upcoming presidential election, but to many elections. The candidates' gene pools seem strange, folks. Pardon my French, as they say, but there's no other way for me to put it. Some candidates' gene pools have a turd in them. Do you know what I'm saying? So, again I ask. Is this the best our country can offer us? With all the bright college graduates, savvy housewives who've raised five children on a shoestring budget, and upstanding men who work two jobs to keep hearth and home together. This...this is the best of our country.

Yet these shouting, empty promising yahoos, with hidden agendas,  are what we're offered? What a sad state of affairs.

I end this with three pieces of advice. 1.) Educate yourselves on all candidates. 2.) Vote. 3.) Let's get the turds out of the gene pool.