BethThe Sunshine State

Having a life

I’ve always believed in public schools, even if some conservatives in Florida don’t. I’ve been skeptical of our system of school grading, high stakes testing, and quasi-privatization – ushered in by Bush the Smarter. Now picture me this week: considering the idea of pulling my daughter out of public school. It’s eating me up inside. So how did I come to this place…
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Family and Friends

Good memories

There aren’t much more than a handful of people from high school I’d be interested in catching up with, and I got an email from one of them this evening. It’s weird thinking I can say to someone “hey, it’s been what… twenty years?” It was just about the last thing I expected, sitting back in a rare spare moment, tweaking my spam filter to catch a…
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Politics

Strong statements before the debate

Politico via TPM: A growing number of Republicans are expressing concern about Sarah Palin’s uneven — and sometimes downright awkward — performances in her limited media appearances. Conservative columnists Kathleen Parker, a former Palin supporter, says the vice presidential nominee should step aside. Kathryn Jean Lopez, writing on the conservative National Review, says…
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Kitchen SinkPolitics

Last minute plans

At nine o’clock this morning I approached my boss with a question disguised as a statement: “I’ll understand if the answer is no, but I’d really like to go to the Obama thing this morning.” I said it with a pinch of man-pout and a hint of pleading in my tone… because I have no shame. I stayed until ten, tying up some loose ends, then took off for home. I grabbed…
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Kitchen Sink

Personal shortcoming

More than one person told me recently they skip my political rants. I wanted to ask why. Is the writing bad? Is it old news? Does the tone put them off? Then I asked myself, “why do I care?” I’m not big on plans or goals. Part of the yearly review at work is a short q/a on our occupational goals. My answer is never very impressive: to understand my weaknesses and do a little…
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Politics

Who am I?

I always knew I was the top gun and this year I’m finally getting my due. Friends know me as the maverick. I’m the reformer with results. My crowning acheivement was campaign finance reform, and I’m really proud of it. My fellow conservatives were madder than hell with me for a little while, but it’s not like it kept the RNC from funneling millions into “hybrid&#8221…
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PoliticsSoapbox

McCain and Spain

So take your pick. Either McCain isn’t as smart on foreign policy as he’d like you to think, he really is getting old, or he makes rash, dare I say reckless, decisions. Either way you slice it, he’s dangerous. Maybe you’re thinking, “hey, it’s no biggie… who care’s if we piss off Spain.” Maybe you think our reputation in the world is just fine…
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PoliticsSoapbox

We are doomed

Here’s a quick rundown on a conversation I had recently. “I’d never vote for Obama in a million years.” “Why not?” “I don’t trust him, and it’s not because he’s black.” “Then why? Is it something he said? Something he didn’t say? Something about his background? Do you disagree with one of his positions?” “No…
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