So Let Me Get This Straight….

An elected executive with majority support in his legislature puts forth a bill that is unpopular to a sizable portion of his electorate causing a slew of peaceful protests and this is OK some of the time but not OK at other times?

What I’m hearing from many people is: this is perfectly acceptable behavior by the executive when he’s a Democrat and unacceptable when the protesters are Republicans but unacceptable by the executive when he’s a Republican and acceptable when the protesters are Democrats.

Please tell me there’s an actual difference between the Wisconsin protesters and their reaction to the union bill and the Tea Parties and the Health Care Reform bill other than political preference? Right now I don’t see any other difference.

Discombobulation

So, I have so much to say, but I’m don’t have the time to do a full Rhodri-length post so I’m going to go all Liam-style.

1. I want to apologize for not continuing the political discussion from last week, there are some things I want to respond to, but I was feeling poorly much of the end of last week and couldn’t respond. After this weekend, that’s all been pushed to the back burner. So, we’ll come back to it in a bit. Thanks to those who’ve responded so far.

2. 2005 was one of the most disjointed years of my life. I lived in several places, I started my PhD, I was Queen’s Champion, and so much more. 2011 is starting off like it’ll be even wilder.

3. Part of that is dad. I’m really glad that I’ve been able to spend so much time in Wichita helping mom out with dad. He’s definitely getting better, heck he probably had more energy on Thursday than I did, but I’m still worried about both of them. I don’t know how long I’ll stay there, but as long as is needed.

4. One nice aspect is that I’m remembering how much I truly love Wichita. Kirby’s, N&J, Field House, Ah-So, Eighth-Day Books, Book-a-holic, the Warrens, the Yard, and on and on. I doubt I’ll ever live there again, but it’s a great city.

5. I thought after the injury to Charles Woodson, the phantom face-mask penalty and the ridiculous incomplete pass call that was obviously a fumble and first down for Green Bay that Pittsburgh was going to be gifted yet another Super Bowl. They have a fantastic organization, and they’ve done so much worthy of admiration, but they have also been one of the luckiest organizations since the earliest 1970s. They’re proof it’s better to be lucky *and* good. I was really happy to see the better team walk away with the victory yesterday.

6. I had three favorite commercials. There were a number of other good ones, including the BudLight trained dog commercial and the Doritos ads, but there were three that stood out. My second runner-up was the PepsiMax First Date commercial. My first runner-up was the House ad that was a direct take-off of the Mean Joe Greene Coke ad. Brilliant on so many levels. Finally, my favorite was the Volkswagen little Darth Vader ad. I *was* that kid. Truthfully, I *am* that kid.

7. So the emotional roller-coaster that was this weekend. Most of the messages on my email or Facebook have either been congratulations for my announcement as Laurel or a lament for the passing of Luci. Up then down then up then down. I’m above-the-moon excited about the Laurel, but I really wish Luci had been there to look over her glasses quellingly at me one more time at one of my silly comments. She always had that little smile like she knew everything, which of course she did. Life goes on, and I’m bouncy-bouncy about the Laurel, especially since it will be given to me by Maerwynn, but my joy will always be tempered by her memory.