Popping My Head Up

For those wondering, yes, I'm still around, but priorities are elsewhere at the moment (nothing wrong, just a temporary shift in priorities). I'm keeping up with the news, if not my commentary (no great loss, that, I hear some saying). FWIW, some scattered thoughts....

I watched the first 15 minutes of last night's debate and switched. Boring stuff. If you haven't made up your mind yet, and are relying on that sort of spectacle to help, well, good luck. Heck, if you haven't made up your mind yet, what kind of mind do you have! (Why do I suspect that a lot of the undecided's simply like the attention? Is that a bit too cynical?). Nevertheless, does it worry anyone--on either side--that every election year we end up counting on the decision-making process of those who can't make up their mind on a matter as important as this---until the last minute?

On the broader election, I'm still where I've been for about a year: we're truly looking for the least worst guy this time around. None of us should be under the illusion that problems will be solved in Washington, either by a grumpy old guy or a charismatic young cipher. Given that, since it looks like the Democrats will surely hold onto the House and Senate, I’m worried about the candy store that will open with a President Obama in office, too. A President McCain with a Democratic Congress probably won’t "help" us much. At this point, I think that’s the best we can hope for.

If the 6 years from 2000 to 2006 taught us anything, it is that having one political party (the GOP, supposedly the party of “small government”) in control of both Congress and the Presidency is not in the best interest of the country. They may have a good year, or two, but eventually they will focus more on keeping power than on legislating. It's human nature, I guess. In the eyes of the average American, less partisan voter, President Clinton and a Democratic Congress overreached in the '90s and President Bush and a Republican Congress eventually did the same. They did so because they convinced themselves that they needed to compromise their principles for the short term so that their long term ideas could be put into effect. Instead, they got locked into that short-term thinking and the American voters turned them out. Should Obama win with a Democratic Congress, it'll probably happen again. So perhaps the most effective way to mitigate the damage is to ensure that one party doesn’t control it all from the outset.

I see ProJo editor Robert Whitcomb has entered the blogosphere with This New England. Interesting given his recent take on the ills of the internet in today's society. Welcome, Bob!

Given our local, and the national, economy, none of us should be surprised that state revenues are down. My only question is if that means State spending will follow, or taxes will go up. How long can the Democratic legislature deny their natural inclination? Be ready.

Camille Paglia has an interesting read on Sarah Palin.

Red Sox in 6.

Finally, thanks to my fellow AR bloggers for carrying me along for the last few weeks.