Category Archives: Politics

A Downer Day for Dad

Computer Stuff, General, Politics

Mother said that dad slept most of the day. He wouldn’t wake up for therapy, but they were able to rouse him long enough to go to lunch, which he slept through. This is becoming much more the norm. His granddaughter Sabra and husband Chris drove over from Carson City, NV and will spend some time with him tomorrow. That will be enjoyable for mother and, when he wakes up, dad will be glad to see them as well.

Tonight Nina and I went to the Idaho State Civic Symphony’s Valentine’s Day concert. Lots of delicious operatic love songs were on the program. We had another thoroughly delightful evening at the symphony.

Kathleen Lane and the Symphony performing Bizet's Habanera


Chriss James: You’re Wrong!

General, Politics, ,

Corruption in our political system is minor compared to what I’ve witnessed in Bulgaria and the Philippines. It does exist, however. For example (Idaho State Journal, Saturday March 1, 1008):

Caribou County’s embattled prosecutor, Chriss James … pleaded no contest to the facts alleged by Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s office — that he dismissed citations in exchange for cash totaling $3,800.

According to news reports (which are locked up behind a stupid pay wall at the Idaho State Journal newspaper), James (the Prosecutor for Caribou County in Soda Springs, Idaho) would meet with people cited for a misdemeanor traffic offense and allowed them to make a “contribution” in exchange for dismissing the charges. The “contribution”, he told them, would be used for the Caribou County Fair’s 5-kilometer run. After receiving the “contribution”, James then deposited the money in his personal bank account.

In a hearing last Friday, James attempted to get the 11 felony counts of misusing public funds dismissed. Thankfully, he was not successful. His reason? “Everyone is doing it, so it shouldn’t be illegal.”

Wrong, Mr. James. Everyone is NOT doing it. Besides, it is illegal.

Politics? Don’t Talk No Mormon Politics Here!

General, Politics,

The church meeting this morning was going fairly well. The group leader’s topic was about the Mormon Church and political stands. He was trying very hard to keep on topic and not where many in the group wanted to go: Why.Don’t.We.Have.Anyone.To.Vote.For.In.This.Election? The discussion moved closer and closer to the edge until the patriarch of the group announced, “There’s 25 seconds until the end of the class and we still have to have a closing prayer.”

The group leader responded, “That’s a good reminder, Bill. Why don’t you….” At which time Bill stood up, folded his arms, and pronounced the benediction on the class. We ended ten seconds early, according to Bill’s watch. We were saved once again from a furious debate about why Mitt Romney pulled out of the nomination race before we in Idaho had a chance to vote for him.

An Open Plea To Mitt Romney

Politics

Dear Mitt,

Yesterday’s SuperTuesday primary elections were a definite downer for your campaign. I’m frustrated because I haven’t even been able to vote for you yet (Idaho’s Republican Primary isn’t until May), and by the time I can, if you keep going like this, my vote will make no difference at all.

Mitt, it’s time to start running a real campaign … a 21st century campaign … one that would put you in the White House. Please do the following:

  1. Start standing for something. Pick a three-phrase slogan and then stick with it. I propose something like “Real Jobs … Real Growth … Real Leadership”. This slogan should be the foundation upon which everything else in the campaign is built. Stop parroting “change”. Even if nothing is done, things will change anyway. Start telling the American People what you will Do when you are elected. Start outlining what you will do the first month, the second month, and the third month. Then make a commitment that every three months you’ll go in front of the American People and report. As a businessman, you understand the “plan, execute, and report” process. So do the American People.
  2. Stop responding to the stupid questions and assertions. Start answering the questions that should have been asked. Today’s pundits and candidates ask strange questions in hopes of tripping people up and consequently the real questions don’t get asked. Listen to the question, decide what the Real Question is behind the question, and then answer the Real Question. Let everyone else wallow around in the muck and mire. The American People know these are stupid questions and they are looking for someone to stand above the stupidity and speak directly to them. Appoint someone to do the “responding to stupid stuff” work once a week. This would be a great use for a blog.
  3. Start talking to the people who will make a difference in the next 50 years. That means you need to move out of the 20th century and into the 21st century and do it Now and In A Big Way.

For instance:

  • Go get a Seesmic account. Loic Lemeur, Seesmic’s founder, is the easiest person in California to reach. Ask him for an account. Set it up, and three times a week, using a plain old webcam and a laptop computer, record a two minute video of Mitt Romney talking to the American People. Within minutes the video will be seen across the country and around the world. And. It. Will. Cost. You. Nothing. The format is simple: sit down in front of the camera which is getting a head and shoulder’s view and press record. Say hello, repeat a question that a Real Person asked yesterday, answer it, ask for their vote, and say goodbye. In less than a half hour each week you will directly reach millions of people. You’ll change some minds, educate others, and enlighten quite a few. It will do more for your campaign than anything else I can think of. BUT the questions have to be real. The response has to be real … rehearsed but not scripted … just Mitt talking to the world.
  • Start using Facebook. Get an account and start letting people setup Facebook events. They’re already doing it, so make it official! Facebook is better than anything the John Dean people tried to do. Using your laptop computer and videocamera, record short 5 minute head-and-shoulders shots of you talking directly into the camera about what you stand for and what you want to do. Send these short videos to the organizers of the Facebook events. They’ll set up a laptop and a video projector and you’ll be able to attend every one of the events vicariously. The American People get it and they will remember.
  • Have your key staff start using Twitter. Let them microblog about what you’re doing, who you’re meeting with, what’s on your mind. It has to be a no-holds-barred, absolutely open conversation, though. No vetting ahead of time what might be tweeted…. If you let it happen, thousands of potential voters will be hearing something from or about you several times a day, directly from your staff, with no pundits or media or anyone else inserting their spin. And. It. Will. Cost. You. Nothing!

Mitt, I’m just a guy in rural Idaho who wants a real choice for the next President of the United States. Stop screwing up your opportunity to be part of that real choice! Start being a real person with a real agenda and a real voice. I’m still hoping for that chance to vote for you in May.

Regards,
Roland Smith
Pocatello, Idaho

p.s.: If you don’t know what Seesmic, Facebook, Twitter, or blogging are, ASK ME!