6 Days to the Election

We are in the final run to election day and no one can say who might win. According to all the polls (Gallup, Pugh, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, etc.), it's a dead heat between the two presidential candidates.

I like the poll with Hallowe'en costume shops. On October 24th, Spirit Halloween stores stated that, according to their records, the candidate who sold the most masks before Halloween in an election year won the election.

In 1996, Clinton outsold Dole 71% to 29%, and as we all know, Clinton won. In 2000, Bush 2 beat Gore 57% to 43% and, in his re-election bid in 2004, Bush 2 once again outsold his opponent, Kerry, 65% to 35%.

In 2008, McCain's mask didn't do too hot. His mask accounted for 40%, leaving Obama to sweep it up with 60% of the sales. And, if mask sales are any indicator, Obama will take it away again in 2012. As of October 24th, it was Obama 65% and Romney 35%.

Now, THAAAT'S my kind of poll research!

12 Days to the Election: Political Ads & A Story

They are everywhere. On the television at home. 

America Deserves Better (Romney)

On the radio in the car. 
On the internet at work.
Political ads are everywhere.

Don't the marketing geniuses that put this stuff together (while making a slough of money!) realize that most of us know the stuff they keep saying over and over and over? Jeez.

I want fresh information. I want to know what I don't know about the candidates. And, I have been actively seeking such information. To my surprise, I found a story in my own neighborhood.

I have a new neighbor who is renting a house in my neck of the woods since early summer. He retired to sunny south Florida from the Boston area and is looking forward to his first winter here, minus the snow and cold. And, he shared a "Romney story" with me.  One I had never heard before.

This lovely man, who I will call "Henry," lived and worked in Boston his entire adult life and remembers the stories about Romney orchestrating the purchase of land for the Mormon church in a small community outside of Boston.  Belmont, according to my neighbor's recollection, was a community of upper middle class residents who liked the quiet and peaceful life they had outside of the booming city of Boston. The Mormons infiltrated the community by purchasing homes and, over a few years, succeeded in assembling a stockpile of land. It seems residents were not aware of this for several years because the Mormons operated quietly, not doing anything to attract attention to themselves.

At some point in the early 1990s, the Mormons decided they wanted to build a church in Belmont. At the top of a beautiful hill, according to Henry.  When the non-Mormon residents (many of whom had lived there for more than 20 years, he says) learned of this, they attended city council meetings to protest to their elected officials that building a church in that spot would change the character of their neighborhood and their way of life.  Those opposing construction of the church would learn that the city commission was not on their side. Somehow, the Mormons had managed to assemble the parcels of property necessary to build their church and, even a lawsuit wouldn't stop it. And, according to Henry, Mitt Romney was at the lead of this "business venture" on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. The same Mitt Romney that is running for President of these United States.

The January 2, 2000, Associated Press news story begins: "BOSTON — The 69,000-square-foot Mormon temple sits atop a hill, dominating the upscale residential neighborhood of single-family homes in suburban Boston. When complete, it will draw crowds of Mormons from all over the northeast and Canada for baptisms, marriages and other ceremonial events." To which I responded, "Oh. My."

Upon researching Henry's story (which I had never heard about before our conversation), I learned that the Mormon church is eager to build churches all over the world and Mitt Romney has been helpful to them in that regard. They're building one near my workplace as I write these words. So, I found myself imagining how it might be to have them infiltrate MY neighborhood the way they did the Belmont community ... and, I thought about how that would make me feel. I've lived in my home for 25 years. It's a quiet neighborhood, off the beaten path, tucked away from all the hullabaloo of tourists, a little piece of "old Florida." I cherish the peace and quiet and lack of traffic. And, I would be heartsick if that happened in my neighborhood, so I suspect that is how many Belmont residents felt back then.

Today, I ask myself and you: Is this who we want to run our country? I think some of you will say "yes." I hope most of you say "no." In 12 more days, we'll all be forced to make that choice.

Some of my references:

NY Times 10/16/2011- Romney, a role of faith and authority

Boston Massachusetts Temple, 100th operating temple

Mormon News' Coverage of the Boston Temple Challenges

Politics

I spent a lot of time on the phone today. Holding. Holding. Holding. So, while "holding" I made this. I didn't set out to make this. It just evolved ...

I like politics. So, does that mean I'm demented?

What's worse, I'm a republican. A "moderate" republican. But, I am often embarrassed by my fellow republicans. Especially the ones in Congress. They don't seem to have "the will of the people" on their agenda. It seems to be all about beating Obama. Why can't it be about doing what's best for the American people?

I'm worried about the economy. My dollars don't go as far as they once did. I'm worried about jobs. My brother was unemployed for more than two years and only recently found temporary construction work for minimum wage of $7.67 an hour. Good thing he gets food stamps or he wouldn't be able to afford to eat.
And, the "national debt." I'm worried about that, too. Not for me so much, but for my daughter and granddaughter, since they will be the ones burdened with paying that debt. What's wrong with doing what's right? Does doing the right thing mean you're a democrat or a republican? Or, could it be ...

Wait! Wait! Doing the right thing! It's the American Way! That's what it is! So, let's get rid of all the UN-American people in Congress. Let's NOT elect republicans or democrats! Let's vote for the Americans who are interested in doing the will of the people! Maybe then we could get it right.

 

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

                                                                                           ~ Mark Twain

The Obama Tidal Wave

"It ought to begin by being personal."
--- Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail."

I read all of the e-mail messages that come from friends and acquaintances when they're about Barack Obama. I, too, had doubts about him when he won the Iowa caucus in January.

I am taking the time NOW to investigate who he is and what he's about as I move to make my selection of the person I think can best do the job of President of the United States of America. I take this very seriously and do my homework!

I am currently reading "The Audacity of Hope: Reclaiming the American Dream" which Obama wrote and published in October 2006. I am impressed with his writing and the organization of his thoughts and related experiences. I watch, read and listen on a daily basis, about Obama and McCain. I hope that you do, too.

Click here: All Things Considered : NPR

McCain's 23-year-old daughter has a blog about traveling with her father's campaign. It's from her point of view, and it provides some insight into McCain in a "different" leadership role --- the role of "Dad." Go visit.

Click here: McCainBlogette.com

If you have not already heard, Obama has set up a "rumor control" web site in response to all the internet gossip. Personally, I think it's an idea whose time has come. Below is the link. Check it out.

Click here: Fight the Smears Fight the Smears Home

John Adams & The Constitution
I watched every episode of "John Adams," the HBO mini-series based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book about our second President and Founding Father, and I am in awe of what all the Founding Fathers did to create the Land of the Free. I have read and re-read the Constitution of the United States of America, which provides a way for us to govern ourselves, and it, too, is an astonishing document, still relevant and operable two hundred years after it was first "published."

Click here: HBO Films: John Adams

Click here: LII: Constitution

Obama appears to embody the spirit of the Founding Fathers. He believes he can do the job of President and it's up to us to decide if we agree with him. It doesn't mean that I've made up my mind to vote for him. I am a registered Republican who is somewhat disillusioned with her party at this point in time. I AM checking him out, trying to get to know him.

I want our next President to be very smart and very well educated. I want a President who understands the economics of our country and the global economy. It's changing rapidly and a technically savvy President can guide us through the maze of changes we are, even now, experiencing. I want a President who is not afraid to talk to the leaders of the other countries. We must engage in dialogue and diplomacy if we are to spread the idea of Freedom upon which our Founding Fathers built our country. Our President does not have to agree with those other guys, but he needs to be talking to them and listening to them ... remember the thing about "keeping your enemies closer"? Our President will be smart enough to do a thing like that.

I want a President who knows that "getting the right people on the bus" is essential to a successful journey. Please check out the 3-page "Good To Great Discussion Guide" and you'll find a sense of what Obama is doing as he prepares to run the business of the U.S. Government. It's a really BIG job to be President, and I really want a President who has his stuff together!

Click here: Welcome to Jim Collins.com

I invite everyone to examine the ideas I've presented here and to share your ideas with me. We have a few months to prepare ourselves for the "Final Hire" on voting day, so join me in the journey to November.

It'll be fun!