I found a news story this morning that came out of Murfreesboro TN, saying that vandals who had been harassing the Republican Campaing HQ there finally actually vandalized the building, throwing a brick with an anarchy symbol on it through the window... So let me get this straight. Vandals who want less government control over their lives (hence, heading towards potential anarchy in a very convulated way) decide to target the party that promotes less government intervention into our lives. That makes no sense. But, I am applying a logical thought process to idiots who throw bricks through windows, and that is my fault.
But it brings up why I support having a test that qualifies you to vote in our federal elections. We have too many morons in this country that help put freedom-takers into office based on nothing other than campaign rhetoric. I listen to all of these Obama supporters that really have no clue what he brings to the table. I'm not saying that these people are idiots b/c they support Obama (even though I think that they are, but that is a different argument), I am saying they are idiots because they don't really know why they support him, which is the worst kind of idiot. People who don't know what they don't know scare the crap out of me when it comes to choosing leadership of our country. Not just for the president, but also for the Senate and the House. We have a looming super majority of far-left, individual rights hating lawmakers, ready to take a filibuster proof ride into socialism. And all because we have a voter base that has no freakin clue what they are about to do.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Chicago Marathon
For any of you looking for a way to challenge your mind, body, and your resolve in a way you have never before, I have three words of advice.... Run a marathon. I ran the Chicago marathon last weekend, and I have to say it was one of the toughest, but most rewarding physical challenges I have had. I have been training since early this year for the race, so I felt I was prepared to go out there and get it done. But in the course of training, I never once had the feelings in my legs, and my mind for that matter, that I did over the last few miles of that race.
I read over and over about 'hitting the wall' around mile 22. It is what occurs when your body's carbohydrate store becomes essentially empty, and you are left with 4 or 5 miles to go and the honest desire to just fall flat on your face on the pavement and not move for three days. It hit me around mile 21, when the heat really starting get to me as well. My time slowed considerably, but I was able to push on through and finish the race. I came in under my goal time of 3 hours, 45 minutes, but the last 25% was quite a bit slower than I had been running.
The course was flat, much better than running here in the foothills of GA. This is a course that usually produces outstanding times for experienced pro runners. In fact, there were quite a few Olympic athletes running this race. Ideal race temp for one of these: 50 degrees. High last Sunday in Chicago: 84. Little toasty. And that made a huge difference towards the end of the race.
Best part of the whole thing was having my wife Summer there as well cheering me on. Here is a link to her site and the pics from the weekend. http://joshsummerandmaddux.blogspot.com/2008/10/marathon-man.html She had me prepared with plenty of Gu and energy packs and a great t-shirt she wore as well. Every time I passed her on the streets, I got a little more energy to finish up. That is until I saw her at mile 25, where she was screaming at me to pick it up and finish strong. At that point, I almost threw my last Gu pack at her from across the road. Kidding. sort of. So a big thank you to her for keeping me going strong....
As for the crowds, they were unbelievable. The energy of the crowd was amazing, they were constantly cheering us all on, and there were literally thousands of spectators everywhere. I hope one day to do this again.
I read over and over about 'hitting the wall' around mile 22. It is what occurs when your body's carbohydrate store becomes essentially empty, and you are left with 4 or 5 miles to go and the honest desire to just fall flat on your face on the pavement and not move for three days. It hit me around mile 21, when the heat really starting get to me as well. My time slowed considerably, but I was able to push on through and finish the race. I came in under my goal time of 3 hours, 45 minutes, but the last 25% was quite a bit slower than I had been running.
The course was flat, much better than running here in the foothills of GA. This is a course that usually produces outstanding times for experienced pro runners. In fact, there were quite a few Olympic athletes running this race. Ideal race temp for one of these: 50 degrees. High last Sunday in Chicago: 84. Little toasty. And that made a huge difference towards the end of the race.
Best part of the whole thing was having my wife Summer there as well cheering me on. Here is a link to her site and the pics from the weekend. http://joshsummerandmaddux.blogspot.com/2008/10/marathon-man.html She had me prepared with plenty of Gu and energy packs and a great t-shirt she wore as well. Every time I passed her on the streets, I got a little more energy to finish up. That is until I saw her at mile 25, where she was screaming at me to pick it up and finish strong. At that point, I almost threw my last Gu pack at her from across the road. Kidding. sort of. So a big thank you to her for keeping me going strong....
As for the crowds, they were unbelievable. The energy of the crowd was amazing, they were constantly cheering us all on, and there were literally thousands of spectators everywhere. I hope one day to do this again.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Top 5 List
Ok, so anybody that reads this blog with any regularity (all two of you) should know my stance on the upcoming election. I don't see this as an election choice that I would prefer in my ideal world, even though I am ardently supporting John McCain in his bid for the White House. McCain's campaign rhetoric has left a lot to be desired by us in the conservative end of the Republican Party, but our choice is critical to the direction of this nation. I. like many of you, will be watching the debate tonight, and in honor of the occasion, I am laying out my top five reasons to oppose Barack Obama for Prez. And guess what, none of them have to do with race. Unbelievable isn't it, that I oppose him and don't care that he is black??? Its apparently an impossible feat, but I assure you I have accomplished it. And it is that argument that Obama supporters keep making that made me want to create this list: To legitimize my opposition and fear of his presidency, based on facts and logic, not emotion and hate.
5. Obama has done nothing to bring the coutry together and unite our divided parties. In his illustrious 143-day US Senate career, Barack Obama's voting record shows that he voted along party lines 97% of the time. And he accuses John McCain of being 90% with GW. Side note: GW doesn't vote in the Senate, but I digress. "Change we can believe in"??? That's not change, that is Washington as usual. Nothing about Obama seems any different that any other leftist idealogue serving (I using the term 'serving' very loosely here).
4. Foreign policy experience and knowledge. Obama requested from our Iraqi government to hold out on any troop withdrawal plans until after the election, presumably to get the credit for doing so. Despicable if you ask me. And he accuses our troops of atrocities and killing civilians, then says he would make a strong commander in chief? He scares the crap out of me in charge of the most important piece of our federal budget: the military.
3. Higher taxes on the rich does not stimulate the economy. Studies conducted over the past ten years have shown conclusively that our economy is best stimulated through business growth, not government growth. High-income earners create jobs, and job creation keeps things moving forward. The government does not create jobs, unless you count the thousands of desk jockeys that collect a federal paycheck to do nothing that effectively promotes economic growth.
2. Universal health care is not the answer. Our health care system is amiss, to be sure. But making all things health care under the care of our lovely federal government will lead to a catastrophic change in our system. I don't know about you, but I don't want to wait 5 months on an x-ray for a broken bone, or have to take certain medicine b/c that is what Congress says I have to take. Critical difference b/w the two candidates: McCain says health care is a responsibility of the citizen, Obama says it is a right. If it is a right, then the government has to back it and enforce it. Obama can say what he wants about choice of coverage, etc., but bottom line is that the gov't will enforce it and do with it as they see fit.
1. America is great because of its government, not its people. Or at least that is what Obama would have you think (Refer to earlier post about Obama's visit to Letterman). The US is great in spite of its government at this point. Our federal government needs to relinquish power back to the states and to the people, and only step in when absolutely necessary. Free market activity promotes competition, whether that be a furniture store choice or school choice with a voucher system. Survival of the fittest makes us all work harder and smarter, and that is exactly what this country needs right now.
If you want less choice in how to run your life, if you want to give more liberties away to our federal government, if you want more redistribution of your wealth given away to those who haven't earned it, if you want to lose any choice in which doctors you see, if you want our foreign enemies to be renewed in their sense of victory over us, if you want weakened sovereignty, then by all means, vote for Obama.
5. Obama has done nothing to bring the coutry together and unite our divided parties. In his illustrious 143-day US Senate career, Barack Obama's voting record shows that he voted along party lines 97% of the time. And he accuses John McCain of being 90% with GW. Side note: GW doesn't vote in the Senate, but I digress. "Change we can believe in"??? That's not change, that is Washington as usual. Nothing about Obama seems any different that any other leftist idealogue serving (I using the term 'serving' very loosely here).
4. Foreign policy experience and knowledge. Obama requested from our Iraqi government to hold out on any troop withdrawal plans until after the election, presumably to get the credit for doing so. Despicable if you ask me. And he accuses our troops of atrocities and killing civilians, then says he would make a strong commander in chief? He scares the crap out of me in charge of the most important piece of our federal budget: the military.
3. Higher taxes on the rich does not stimulate the economy. Studies conducted over the past ten years have shown conclusively that our economy is best stimulated through business growth, not government growth. High-income earners create jobs, and job creation keeps things moving forward. The government does not create jobs, unless you count the thousands of desk jockeys that collect a federal paycheck to do nothing that effectively promotes economic growth.
2. Universal health care is not the answer. Our health care system is amiss, to be sure. But making all things health care under the care of our lovely federal government will lead to a catastrophic change in our system. I don't know about you, but I don't want to wait 5 months on an x-ray for a broken bone, or have to take certain medicine b/c that is what Congress says I have to take. Critical difference b/w the two candidates: McCain says health care is a responsibility of the citizen, Obama says it is a right. If it is a right, then the government has to back it and enforce it. Obama can say what he wants about choice of coverage, etc., but bottom line is that the gov't will enforce it and do with it as they see fit.
1. America is great because of its government, not its people. Or at least that is what Obama would have you think (Refer to earlier post about Obama's visit to Letterman). The US is great in spite of its government at this point. Our federal government needs to relinquish power back to the states and to the people, and only step in when absolutely necessary. Free market activity promotes competition, whether that be a furniture store choice or school choice with a voucher system. Survival of the fittest makes us all work harder and smarter, and that is exactly what this country needs right now.
If you want less choice in how to run your life, if you want to give more liberties away to our federal government, if you want more redistribution of your wealth given away to those who haven't earned it, if you want to lose any choice in which doctors you see, if you want our foreign enemies to be renewed in their sense of victory over us, if you want weakened sovereignty, then by all means, vote for Obama.
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